"Atelier Raku"

Fabienne L’Hostis is passionate about the work of clay. Her favorite technique is Raku which allows her to create unique and refined ceramics in each of the 90 colors of her color chart.

Her pieces are all designed and created in her Atelier which is located in Mouans Sartoux on the French Riviera. They are adaptable to multiple materials and supports: walls, decorative panels, furniture, etc. Each creation is shaped by hand to leaving and imprint of the handmade quality of the product.

"Raku" means "happiness by chance"

Raku ceramic pottery is a Japanese technique used since the 16 th century.
The dried ceramic piece is heated up to 1050°C to make it into a white “biscuit” which is less fragile as the dried form. It is then enamelled with metal oxides which will give it the final colours and shine. The second firing is done at 960°C. At that moment the piece of ceramic is red hot and is taken out of the kiln and place in a container filled with sawdust that bursts into flames at once. The brutal change of temperature from 960°C to ambient temperature provides a thermic shock causing the enamel to crack and retract, the carbon emitted by the fumes of the burning sawdust colours any inch of the enamel free clay. This gives the black areas and the cracks on the creations. When sufficient amount of carbon colouring is achieved, the pieces are taken out and plunged in cold water, this second thermic shock causes the enamel to smooth back over the cracks, setting the design forever.