Stove:  Laughing Goat "stove" pottery can be used either in the oven or on a direct flame. The clay is fired at a lower temperature than "serving" or "oven" pottery and is, therefore, more open and able to withstand the thermal shock of being placed on a direct flame. As you cook food in my "stove" pottery it both cooks and concentrates flavors and is particularly suited for "low, slow" cooking. The more open and porous nature of "stove" ware makes it slightly more delicate than high-fired ware so it should be washed by hand and not used for food storage.

Oven & Serving:   Laughing Goat "oven" & "serving" ware is fired to cone 10 (2400 degrees), which makes it impervious to liquid and well-suited to oven cooking and food storage. The high firing temperature makes the clay susceptible to thermal shock, so "serving" and "oven" pieces shouldn't be taken from the freezer or refrigerator and placed into a hot oven. This ware can be cleaned in the dishwasher, and is ideal for oven cooking, serving, and food storage.

Raku: Raku pottery involves a thousand year old Japanese firing technique. In my Raku pottery, I watch in the kiln as the piece is firing. When the special raku glaze has melted, the piece takes on a shiny surface. At this point, I reach into the red-hot kiln and remove the pottery using a metal pair of tongs. The piece is then placed, red-hot, into a barrel of combustible material such as paper or leaves and the lid of the barrel is replaced. As the burning material is consumed, all oxygen in the barrel is removed and the pottery takes on the shiny swirling metallic colors and crackle effects which are characteristic of raku ware. No two pieces ever are the same in raku and the random effects of chance are what make raku such a fun and fascinating technique. Raku ware is delicate and is best-suited for display or short term serving.

All Laughing Goat glazes are formulated and made by me. They contain no lead and are well-suited for the uses outlined above. SG