Akae: The Red Overglaze Enamel of Kutani and Arita
Akae is the general term for overglaze painting led by red. It is painted with low-firing enamels over a glazed surface that has already had its main firing, then fixed in an enamel kiln at 700–800°C.
It is usually combined with gold, green and yellow, and it is the technique that represents the luxurious enamelled porcelain of Kutani ware, the Kakiemon style and ko-Imari.
Against sometsuke, drawn in a single indigo beneath the glaze, akae is the opposite in position, temperature and number of colors. Layering both on one piece produces what is called kinrande.
The difficulty of red
The red of akae is made by grinding bengara, an iron-oxide pigment, with a clear glassy medium. This red cannot survive high heat: at the 1,300°C of a main firing it either darkens to black or burns away. That is why it can only be fixed at low temperature over the glaze.
And the red of akae shifts toward vermilion or sinks dark with a difference of only 20–30°C in firing. Managing the heat of the enamel kiln is the stage an akae maker worries over most.
Akae hosogaki, drawing fine, even lines, is counted among Kutani's highest techniques. Lines as thin as a hair, drawn across a curved surface with the breath held. It is work in which drawing ability itself is on trial.
Sometsuke and akae compared
| Aspect | Sometsuke | Akae |
|---|---|---|
| Where it is drawn | On the bisque body, under the glaze | On the fired glaze, over it |
| Firing | Completed in one firing at 1,300°C | A second firing at 800°C after the main firing |
| Color | A single indigo of gosu | Red first, with green, yellow, purple and gold |
| Texture | Flat; sunk under the glaze | Slightly raised; catches a fingertip |
| Impression | A crisp contrast of blue and white | Showy, warm, full of movement |
Using akae for years
Because akae is enamel fixed over the glaze, watching out for friction and strong detergents is the secret to keeping it beautiful.
Unlike sometsuke, protected by its glass coating, akae enamel is exposed at the surface. Hard scrubbing with a metal scourer or scouring powder damages the design. The high-pressure jets of a dishwasher and strongly alkaline detergents also fade the color gradually. Wash gently by hand with a soft sponge and neutral detergent.
Related terms and guides
Related terms
- Uwa-etsuke: How Overglaze Enamel Painting Works
- Gosai: The Five Colours of Kutani Overglaze Painting
- Ko-Kutani: The Lost 17th-Century Kutani Porcelain
- Sometsuke: Blue and White Porcelain, Explained
- Shita-etsuke: Underglaze Painting and Why It Never Fades
- Japanese Pottery Glossary | Terms, Techniques & Kilns
Read further
- Japanese Pottery Patterns: What the Motifs Actually Mean
- Kutani Ware: Japan's Boldest Ceramic Painting
- Arita Ware: Japan's First Porcelain, 400 Years On
- How to Care for Japanese Ceramics: A Practical Guide
Look at how fine the red is
Red lines as thin as a hair, and the raised thickness of enamel. Nokaze introduces painted pottery together with the person who painted it.
Browse painted ceramicsFAQ
What is akae, and how does it differ from sometsuke?
Is there anything to watch when using akae pieces?
How does akae differ from gosai?
Shop the related pieces
Japanese Painted Ceramics
83 pieces See all
New to Japanese pottery? Start here — its history, how pottery differs from porcelain, the clays and glazes behind each style, and how to care for a piece. → Japanese Pottery: The Complete Guide