No don't worry. I didn't make this. It is a style called 'Bizen-yaki', one of the oldest pottery style in Japan. I am too lazy to explain what this is, so i am just going to steal it from wikipedia. Voila:
Bizen ware (備前焼, Bizen-yaki?) is a type of Japanese pottery most identifiable by its ironlike hardness, reddish brown color, absence of glaze, and markings resulting from wood-burning kiln firing.
Bizen is named after the village of Imbe in Okayama prefecture, formerly known as Bizen province. This artwork is Japan's oldest pottery making technique, introduced in the Heian period. Bizen is one of the six remaining kilns of medieval Japan.
Bizen clay bodies have a high iron content, and traditionally, much organic matter that is unreceptive to glazing. The clay can take many forms.
The surface treatments of Bizen wares are entirely dependent on yohen, or "kiln accidents." Pine ash produces goma, or 'sesame seed' glaze spotting. Rice straw wrapped around pieces creates red and brown scorch marks. The placement of pieces in a kiln causes them to be fired under different conditions, with a variety of different results. Considering that one clay body and type of firing is used, the variety of results is remarkable.
Because of the clay composition, Bizen wares are fired slowly over a long period of time. Firings take place only one or two times a year.
Bizen is named after the village of Imbe in Okayama prefecture, formerly known as Bizen province. This artwork is Japan's oldest pottery making technique, introduced in the Heian period. Bizen is one of the six remaining kilns of medieval Japan.
Bizen clay bodies have a high iron content, and traditionally, much organic matter that is unreceptive to glazing. The clay can take many forms.
The surface treatments of Bizen wares are entirely dependent on yohen, or "kiln accidents." Pine ash produces goma, or 'sesame seed' glaze spotting. Rice straw wrapped around pieces creates red and brown scorch marks. The placement of pieces in a kiln causes them to be fired under different conditions, with a variety of different results. Considering that one clay body and type of firing is used, the variety of results is remarkable.
Because of the clay composition, Bizen wares are fired slowly over a long period of time. Firings take place only one or two times a year.
Right so why am I talking about this bizen-yaki? Because................ there is a pottery artist living in Hazu. Mr. Fukaya his name and he has a small gallery in the middle of the rice fields, at the end of a small path.
The gallery is called Genro-gama. The building itself was once a silk-worm factory ran by Mr Fukaya's grandfather, hence the staircase is as wide as a castle and the ceilings are high.
Now........... There is a huge, huge difference between seeing the finished cups and plates etc, and actually making one. Without even slightely thinking about 'Ghost' (I promise!!!), I watched my family get carried away in the world of clay and mud and goo.
And my sister, (yes that's my sister) makes a plate, struggles with the hard mud.
It is a weird concept to believe that this mud, although simply 'mud', is something very very expensive.
ANd finally the work of the master, Mr Fukaya.
Another good reason to come to Hazu, right???
No comments:
Post a Comment