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I have made Raku Pottery for over 10 years. It is one of the most amazing things I have ever done in my life. I love the feel of the clay, and the amazing variety of the finished products. It is a long process, but the results are worth the time.
During the summer of 2009 I had seven weddings to attend. I wanted to give something meaningful to my friends on their special day. Because of this I created The Salt Covenant: A Wedding Gift.
Together with my husband, Allen, we create the raku eggs at our home in Central Pennsylania. Now this creation is being used as an alternative unity ceremony across the country.
During ancient times, agreements and promises were sealed by a salt covenant. Each person would take a pinch of salt from their pouch and place it in the pouch of the other. This agreement could not be broken unless an individual could retrieve their own grains of salt. But this, of course, is impossible.
This raku-fired salt egg has been especially made for you to create a salt covenant with your spouse in to celebrate the life you've had and will have together.
Both spouses should take a bag of salt and combine the the two bags inside the egg.This a bond that can not be broken... as is a symbol of an unbreakable promise of love.
Includes:
Raku Salt Egg with names of husband and wife & their anniversary date
Informational card about Salt Covenants (printed on recycled press sheets)
Spoon (purchased from local GoodWill, cut and ground down)
Two bags of labeled salt Husband & Wife (or any other union) made from recycled table cloths
Informational card about Raku (printed on recycled press sheets)
Fabric Gift Bag Made from recycled material
(Brown Bag is for Pick-Up Orders Only)
Why do you need salt in your marriage?
Salt is a good preservative. It will help you remember that your love for one another should be preserved for all time.
Salt adds flavor. We all need a little spice in our lives.
Salt melts ice. When your heart begins to grow cold you can melt one another again.
Salt is easily dissolved. You can remember to dissolve your issues and learn to work together.
Now use this salt in your cooking until it's gone, and then each time it needs refilled, refill it together. It is a wonderful way to remember what your marriage is about.
Why an egg?
The egg shape symbolizes the full cycle of life, and therefore encompasses all that you will enjoy, create, and love with in your life together.
Every peice is unique!
There are not two identical pieces of Raku pottery! Raku glazes are ALWAYS DIFFERENT, sometimes the eggs have large crackling, sometimes small, sometimes both, they also may have black dots, and the smoke from the process can color each egg slightly and leave unique patterns. Raku glaze may also have marks from the tongs used to take the egg out of the kiln. All these different marks are apart of the beauty of Raku. Eggs range in size and shape, the bottom are approximately 3 to 4 inches, and the heights are approximately 3.5 to 5 inches.
Eco-Friendly
The Salt Covenant is a Raku fired Egg using the leaves from my trees that we collect and grind down each fall. Each one is hand thrown, glazed and raku fired at my home. The packaging for the Salt Egg is all upcycled material. The bags are made from table clothes and curtains from my local Good Will, and can either be round or square, but will always be white or cream in color. Each spoon is different, we also purchase them from our local Good Will, cut them down and file them. The shipment packages are always recycled materials.
Is raku food safe?
There are two issues. The first relates to the microcracking in the glaze that can cause seepage. Considering your egg is meant to hold salt (and salt only) seepage will not be an issue.
The other issue regarding being food safe has to do with the glaze. Here's the real problem. Many raku glazes make use of metals that are not good for you. The basic white crackle glaze formula used on these eggs contain only materials that are harmful when breathed in as powder form, so once fired, they are of no threat. Also the inside of the eggs are not glazed. The glaze on the eggs is on the outside and cracked edge of the egg only. I coat the inside of the egg with a food safe sealer.
So is raku food safe... no. Are my eggs able to hold salt safely? In all the research that I have done I believe they are.
Of course it is totally up to you to use the egg as you see fit. I have friends who use it as ornamental only, and friends that use it to house sea salt on the kitchen counter. I have my own in my kitchen and I use it daily.
Raku pottery is created with a specific ceramic firing process that uses both fire and smoke to create unique patterns and designs. With raku pottery, the piece is first bisque fired. Then, it is glazed and undergoes a raku firing process. The kiln reaches temperatures of about 1800°F
The raku pottery is removed from the kiln using specially designed raku tongs. While the raku pottery piece is still hot and glowing, it is placed inside a metal can full of combustible materials. The heat emitted from the raku pottery causes these materials to catch on fire.
After the materials inside the metal can catch on fire, a lid is placed over the can and the raku pottery is sealed inside. The raku pottery is capable of withstanding these high temperatures and the fire within the can because it is made from a special type of clay that is capable of withstanding thermal shock. Traditional pottery clays, on the other hand, would crack from the drastic temperature changes raku pottery undergoes.
As the fire consumes the oxygen within the can, it also draws the oxygen out of the raku pottery and its glaze. This process is called post fire reduction. It is the post fire reduction stage that creates the unique look of raku pottery. The resulting patterns and colors are unpredictable, as they are created through the natural process of oxygen removal.
After the raku pottery remains in the sealed metal can for about 15 minutes, it is removed and placed in a can of water. This freezes the patterns that were created during the post fire reduction stage. The amount of time a piece should remain in the cooling water largely depends on the piece and its size.
In the news...
Featured in State College Magazine
Centered Ceramics was featured by State College Magazine under "Mediums" in the September 2010 issue for Raku Ceramics, and The Salt Covenant. I feel very honored to have been chosen. You can see the online version at: statecollegemagazine.com
The Offbeat Bride Store
The Salt Covenant is now listed in the Offbeat Bride Store. It can be found under ceremonies and gifts.
Indie Bride Feature
We were just featured on another blog! Thank you Indie Bride.
Check it out: Blog Feature on Indie Bride
Our Advetorial On Offbeat Bride
We now have an advetorial on Offbeat Bride
Check it out: Centered Ceramics Advertorial
2010 Central PA Bridal Expo
Centered Ceramics will have a booth at the 2010 Central PA Bridal Expo! It's on Sunday, January 31, 2010 _ 12:00 noon 4:00 p.m Where: Celebration Hall - 2280 Commercial Blvd., State College, PA
To order "The Salt Covenant" on Etsy: Click Here
Find us on facebook: Click Here.
email address: yana.boyd_gmail.com
