Every once in awhile I am asked how to care for the inlaid and Raku pieces I create here at J. Davis Studio, so today I thought I’d shed some insight on the subject.
Showcasing Your Pieces
We’re often asked if our inlaid, and raku, pieces are fragile. They are no more fragile than any other type of pottery. If you drop them, they will break. If you bump them hard enough, they will fracture.
When showing them off to visitors, or using them for home decor, we suggest you showcase them in an area free from heavy traffic.
Water
A raku piece will not hold water. The thermal shock of the raku piece coming in contact with water will cause the glaze to craze, and let water seep through and lead to the deterioration of the glaze finish.
Because of the bisque interior, and many openings, our inlaid vases do not hold water. If you want to fill your vases with floral arrangements, please use fake flowers.
Fading
The color on the inlaid pieces is fired on at 1800 degrees so that the color and finish never changes.
I have outdoor light fixtures that have not changed colors in 20 years. That being said, the raku glaze— being based on pure metals—can fade if left in direct sunlight on a day to day basis.
Care
Although a rinse under water will not hurt an inlaid piece, your best option is to dust regularly with a feather duster. If you do choose to rinse the piece under water, do not allow the water to sit on the piece for more than a few seconds as the water can be absorbed into piece and cause discoloration.
Raku pieces are best cleaned with a damp cloth.
Shipping and Storage
When you ship an inlaid piece via mail, or a moving truck, it’s important that you give it lots of cushion. First, wrap the piece in bubble wrap (the larger the bubbles the better), then tape the bubble wrap down with masking tape.
Next, fill a box, double the size of the piece, with Styrofoam peanuts. Dig a hole in the center of the peanuts, and insert your wrapped piece, making sure it never rubs up against the box, itself.
Seal the box shut with tape, and label the box. If you are mailing the box, the word “Fragile” should be written on every side of the box. If you’re storing the box, you may want to include the contents of the box, i.e. “Inlaid Vase by J. Davis Studio – store at room temperature.”
When shipping, always insure the item for its current value. You may also want to mark the box, “High Value, DO NOT DROP!”
As for the innerSpirit rattles, and ornaments…
The best way to store the ornaments, during the year, is to wrap them in dry tissue paper, then seal them in an air-tight plastic bag. You can then put them away with your regular Christmas ornaments.
It’s best to keep hold of the box the innerSpirit rattles came in, then wrap them in a piece of tissue paper, place them in the box, and store them in a safe place.
