Not my teaware.....but I wish it were....

[bliss]

I really love David Holden's work, especially those deep russets, and surfaces like apples and late pears. This one's extraordinary - he says somewhere that they're all pinched, wow, really lovely forms to me. Nice versatile size, too, and wants a belly full of roasty oolong. But I'm on severe wares hiatus for a while. :
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtistDavidHo ... eader-name

It takes a lot of wading and some wincing, but there are some really fine potters in Etsy.

These are GREAT looking wans! How much should I worry about the non-food-safe property of the raku ware that David sells? I have read A LOT of threads tonight. I do not know if David is using American och Japanese raku technique. If the glaze is all sound (due to how it's produced) and contain no toxic materials, is it mainly glass splinters and possible bacterial buildup in the crazing I have to worry about? Would sencha, or even oolong, be problematic in these due to heat and longer use than for matcha? Would some "tests" to see how boiling water affects the piece crazing-wise together with inspection before every use be "safe enough"?

Two examples:
White Raku Porcelain Bowl
Small green bowl

Thanks in advance!

[kikula]

I'd sail that one to one of the extremely competent pottery and glaze experts who float around in here. I'm sure if you contacted the artist via Etsy he'd be glad to answer your questions about his firing methods and materials, and you could take those specifics to someone in here.
The unglazed and shino glazed russet ones should be fine, they're unglazed, high fired and not raku.
As for bacteria in little cracks and porous crannies, well, I think it's a non-issue, personally - talk with the Hagi crowd on that one.

[brandon]

If you want to sanitize a tea bowl, gently put it upside down on a steamer basket, possibly with some rubber rings from canning jars as a gentle buffer. Put a lit on and steam the crap out of it. Don't handle it until it is cool and this is a pretty safe operation.

[Teaism]

If you want to sanitize a tea bowl, gently put it upside down on a steamer basket, possibly with some rubber rings from canning jars as a gentle buffer. Put a lit on and steam the crap out of it. Don't handle it until it is cool and this is a pretty safe operation.

You can do the same with Yixing pots too. After high steam yreatment, the patina develop faster as the pores are open and can absorb more tea oil.

[bliss]

Great answers here!

I'm not too worried about the possible bacterial build-up since I would only be using raku for tea and care for it by flushing with near to boiling water before use etc.

Steaming had not crossed my mind, neither with raku or yixing. Sounds like a very good idea (given slow increase in temperature of course so there is little risk in cracking it).

So I guess that leaves me with questions regarding unintended toxicity due to little insight into modern commercial glazes (if such a thing is used) and glass splinters.

There was also something about some raku glaze being chemically unstable or something. I haven't really understood whether that is something that mainly affects possible leeching (if there are toxins to be leeched), if it has to do with expansion/contraction (and thus possible glass splinters) or if it is a problem in its own right.

Have I missed anything?

Hrmm.. Let me know if I should start a separate thread on this or revive one of the many old threads.

[kikula]

From David to TCers, with his permission:

"Here is a response, if you can post it for me thanks. All my wood fired tea bowls can be used for tea or any beverage to be enjoyed.
All my Raku bowls are for display only and are not food safe at this time.
Here is a link to more info on care of ceramics and there is info on care of Raku: http://www.2000cranes.com/ceramics-care.htm "

[bliss]

From David to TCers, with his permission:

"Here is a response, if you can post it for me thanks. All my wood fired tea bowls can be used for tea or any beverage to be enjoyed.
All my Raku bowls are for display only and are not food safe at this time.
Here is a link to more info on care of ceramics and there is info on care of Raku: http://www.2000cranes.com/ceramics-care.htm "

Thanks for asking Kikula! I was worried David would feel forced to say that. It would have been nice if there was a specific reason such as "uses cadmium" or "just wood ash and recycled modern glass in glazing, but crazing can harbour bacterias or release glass splinters" so we could try to make an informed decision.

Hrmm.
I think I'm too tired to pursue this right now.

[kikula]

I'd not ever worry about asking about a piece of pottery - in my experience potters are a friendly lot, pleased that anyone has the intelligence and interest to reasonably inquire about their work.
Here's a good conversation that I bookmarked some time ago:
http://community.ceramicartsdaily.org/t ... -food-use/

There are a lot of good reasons not to use Western raku, not the least of which is that the finish is rather easily spoiled. I'd never purchase it as I'm not interested in nonfunctional teawares. That's a non sequitur to me and philosophically jarring, though they're arguably sculptural and often quite beautiful.
(I also got kind of tired of it in the 60's and 70's - like every bohemian sort back then I used it without hesitation, and lived to tell the tale.)

But my eye was caught by John's delicious red pieces, no worries there.

[bliss]

I'd not ever worry about asking about a piece of pottery - in my experience potters are a friendly lot, pleased that anyone has the intelligence and interest to reasonably inquire about their work.

Absolutely! I hope I did'nt come across as not wanting to speak to the potter. I was just putting off an inquiry/discussion with David until the weekend, when I can put my full attention on it.

Here's a good conversation that I bookmarked some time ago:
http://community.ceramicartsdaily.org/t ... -food-use/

Thanks, I seem to have missed that one. Will read soon!

There are a lot of good reasons not to use Western raku, not the least of which is that the finish is rather easily spoiled.

Ahh, this must be what the "unstable glaze" was referring to. It did'nt really cross my mind that it would be so easily spoiled. Makes a lot of sense why Western raku is a no-go then if you have this on top of possibly dangerous aspects

I'd never purchase it as I'm not interested in nonfunctional teawares. That's a non sequitur to me and philosophically jarring, though they're arguably sculptural and often quite beautiful.

Agree 100%. Teaware that I can only LOOK at is not for me.

[Saladin]

I think this bowl is a little ridiculous, but still wicked awesome. I'd like to have it. http://one-jp.com/lot/t357539889

[AdamMY]

So I found a youtube channel that shows videos of all sorts of Japanese ceramics. There are some really good ones, for instance I would love this little beauty:

http://youtu.be/8xr1wvrHs2k

[debunix]

Lovely thing. Is there truly a youTube channel just for drooling over rotating teawares like this?

[AdamMY]

Lovely thing. Is there truly a youTube channel just for drooling over rotating teawares like this?

It appears so! Although there are also some videos of the artists throwing the items as well. While maybe not entertaining to everyone, those who aspire to learn how to make world class pottery can watch those for hours as well.

[debunix]

Here's a gorgeous carved kyusu by Yohei on Artistic Nippon, well protected from my acquisitive interest by the price--not high at all for the work that went into it, but still, safe from me for now...

[Chip]

Here's a gorgeous carved kyusu by Yohei on Artistic Nippon, well protected from my acquisitive interest by the price--not high at all for the work that went into it, but still, safe from me for now...

Ah shucks, 390 ml, too big for me. OK, not in my present price range either.

This is the nicest of the Yohei Kyusu in this special collection that I have seen.