raku

[ rah-koo ]

/ ˈrɑ ku /

noun

a thick-walled, rough, dark lead-glazed Japanese earthenware used in the tea ceremony.

Nearby words

raking cornice, raking course, raking piece, rakish, rakishly, raku, rakʿa, rale, raleigh, raleigh, sir walter, ralik chain

Origin of raku

1870–75; < Japanese raku(-yaki) “pleasure” glaze, originated by Chōjirō of Kyoto, who was given the seal-stamp with the character “pleasure” from Hideyoshi as an artisan-household designation

Examples from the Web for raku

It is equally hard to understand why raku should have been preferred to porcelain for this special ceremonial.
The Ceramic Art|Jennie J. Young
These bowls were sometimes imported from Siam and other countries, and vessels of raku were made for the same purpose.
The Ceramic Art|Jennie J. Young
The raku faience owed much of its popularity to the patronage of the tea clubs.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 2|Various
Under the first of these classifications may be included Bizen, Seto, Raku, and some other wares.
The Empire of the East|H. B. Montgomery

Raku ware, so called from the inscribed mark Raku (happiness), consisted chiefly of tea-bowls.
Chats on Oriental China|J. F. Blacker