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Tanba is one of
the original rokkoyo or pottery centers of Japan.
This area is referred to as one of the Six Old Kilns of
Japan ( along with Bizen, Echizen, Seto, Shigaraki, and
Tokoname ) and continues today to support the livelihood
of potters who carry on the tradition of their 800 year
old craft. Local artisans still fire their wares in
old-style anagama wood-fired kilns, which dot the village
of Tachikui and the surrounding hills. The natural
elements that comprise the unique appearance and style of
Tanba-yaki such as the local clay, the glazes and firing
techniques inherited from generations of skilled master
potters give this pottery a distinctive appearance.
We discovered these elegant teacups on a trip to Japan and
shipped a few of them back to the store for our customers.
These cups are unglazed, and are made from local clay.
They have a pleasing rough texture and feature spots of
feldspar in the clay that ‘pop’ from the high heat of the
kiln. The flashes of color on these cups are a trademark
of Tanba-yaki and are the result of heat change variations
in the kiln called hi-iro (heat color).
Made by Mr. Masashi Ohgami, Tanba, Japan |
