Nesting aid - handmade raku fish - red puffer fish

Due to the immense decline in nesting opportunities, the bird population is suffering worldwide. We thought that something should be done about this and have designed this individual ceramic nesting aid. Inspired by the icy, dark abysses of the deep sea, this unique nesting aid was designed as a beautiful contrast to the ease of flying. Every step of the process, including the structured glaze, was meticulously handcrafted. The organic form of the gives the piece an immense expanse - like the ocean and the air!

The fish is a completely handmade unique specimen. All parts were cleanly made from special raku clay and set in leather-hard condition. The body was especially complicated because it is completely hollow. In the following the fish was modelled meticulously, cleanly plastered and when it was dry it was bisqued in the kiln.

The puffer fish was then glazed by hand. Three glazes (red, green and blue) were used for this. The red one was painted on in the form of drops that emerge and run out of each other. The beard of the fish is glazed azure blue. The green is found on the fin, eyes and eyebrows. Afterwards the fish was treated with the raku technique in the glaze band. The technique was developed in Japan in the 16th century and is used worldwide. The 1000 °C hot ceramics are taken out of the kiln in a yellow glowing state and placed in a reducing environment. The reducing environment was achieved here with sawdust. As soon as the yellow glowing ceramics come into contact with the shavings, they ignite them. The airtight covering leads to reduction and a smouldering fire.

The rapid drop in temperature causes stress cracks (cracs) and a craquelé in the vessel. The soot dyes these in black and makes each piece unmistakably unique. Finally, I cleaned the ceramics with a rough sponge and steel wool.

This is an absolutely unique piece, which demanded countless hours of steady hand and alert eye.


The fish-bird incubator weighs about 1.2 kg, which is just right for a piece of this size/function. Not too heavy, but also not too light - so the wind has no chance. Woodpeckers are also powerless against the ceramic! The nesting aid is about 15 cm high, about 25 cm deep and about 20 cm wide.

The fish has a small bearing damage: Its right fin was broken. It was reattached with a special golden glue. The patch is in no way inferior to the material and is the glittering highlight - so why hide it!