HippyClay Raku Pottery
and Beads

IMPORTANT NOTES   from Hippy Clay

Functional and Decorative Clayworks
    Throughout this site you may see notations reading "Dinnerware Safe" and " Not Dinnerware Safe". Products labeled "Dinnerware Safe" means that the materials used in the production of the glaze do not contain any harmful substances, and that the pieces have been fired correctly and properly matured. These products are dishwasher safe but should not be placed in the microwave. Products labeled "Not Dinnerware Safe" have been produced using glazes that may contain Lead, Cadmium, and/or other toxic substances OR have a type of glaze surface that is not safe to be used for any purpose that would put them in contact with food or drink (some "antique" and "crackle" glazes fall in this catagory). This label also applies to Raku work, which can be very porous and have a crackled surface due to the rapid cooling process. This is not only expected, it is the desired effect!
Raku Art
   Raku is a method of glaze firing pottery. Each piece has already been bisque fired to cone 04 and has had special glazes applied by pouring, dipping, sponging, brushing, etc. The pieces are then fired in the fiber kiln using a 500,000 BTU gas burner until the piece reaches about 1900 F (approx cone 06). This takes about 15-25 minutes depending on the load. The near molten piece is then carefully removed with tongs while red hot and placed in a metal can with a combustible material-such as shredded newspaper or sawdust. The combustible material ignites and the fire and smoke react with the glaze to create very unique and unpredictable colors, lusters, and patterns. Every piece of Raku fired HippyClay pottery is a one of a kind work of art. Raku fired pottery is not considered to be dinnerware safe as many of the glazes contain lead, cadmium, or other toxic substances and crackling of the glaze surface is a part of the firing process. They are not suitable to hold liquids, even though the form may suggest such application, but can serve well as candy dishes, potpourri pots, holding any dry material, or just for decoration. The functions of Raku pottery are exhibiting extreme beauty and creating fascination!

Availability and Custom Orders
   Each and every product created at HippyClay is made with pride BY HAND in the USA! All are one-of-a-kind pieces that have been wheel-thrown or hand-built- I use no jigs or extra machines to create exact matches. No two items are exactly alike, even those that are in sets. Sets are created extremely similar, but each piece is unique and not a perfect match. I believe this adds to the beauty and style as well as the individuality of each piece. I work hard to make sure the pieces available on the site are in stock and ready to ship. If for some reason the item you're after has already sold, similar items can be produced at your request at no extra charge..although it may take a few weeks to ship. Feel free to email me with any custom requests and I'll do my best to accommodate!

Payments and Shipping
   P ayments for all online orders shall be made through the safe and secure PAYPAL shopping cart.  If you wish to use a credit card but do not want to purchase online please call or email in your order and your credit card will be manually processed offline.  Items paid for using Paypal or credit card generally ship within 1-3 days of receiving the funds. All orders will ship UPS Ground with Insurance and Delivery Confirmation. We have not had anything damaged in transit yet--I pack them well! HippyClay is very determined to provide great customer satisfaction. 'A good pot for a fair price' (as you could have heard in medieval times) is my mantra. Thank you for your interest in HippyClay and I look forward to earning your business and repeat business!

Your HippyClay Potter is:

Alan Kirby
110 Wildflower Road
Pittsburg, KS 66762
alan@hippyclay.com
620.230.9511