Well, hello little kitty! Peeking over the rim of this splendid vase, a whimsical cat shares his big smile with the world. Crafted in clay, the cat features a white crackle glaze with orange highlights, contrasting nicely with the colorful raku-fired vase. Artisan designed and handcrafted in the USA, the cat vase is individually made one at a time, so slight variations in the color and surface texture should be expected. Recommended for decorative use only, as raku pottery is not a water-tight material. What is Raku? The art of modern raku pottery techniques arose from centuries-old Japanese methods of exposing ceramic clay to rapid low-fire temperature changes. Once the vase is shaped on the pottery wheel, it is fired to over 1800 degrees. While molten hot, it is placed in an airtight space with carbon-rich matter that bursts into a smoky smoldering atmosphere. The intense reaction creates one-of-a-kind variation, resulting in glimmering shades of burnt orange, copper, blue, and maroon. Raku is prized for its wonderful unpredictable patterns and colors.