Rustico 1

Wheel thrown vessel, burnished till smooth, masked to provide contrast.
Between each layer of Terra Sigilata, the piece is burnished smooth to create a glow. After Six or more layers, the piece is bisque fired to 940 degrees.
Then it is Raku fired to over 1000 degrees.
The red glowing piece is removed from the kiln, it is placed in a bed of combustible material which bursts into flame.
A cover is placed over the flaming piece to trap the carbon into the clay, creating the dark contrast in the masked areas.