Tatara-zukuri (slab building)

A Japanese ceramic technique in which slabs of uniform clay are cut and assembled into forms. Tatara-zukuri enables sharp angles and flat surfaces that wheel throwing cannot produce, and is widely used in Bizen and contemporary japanese pottery.

FAQ regarding Slab Building (Tatara-zukuri)

Q. What exactly is the "Slab Building" (Tatara-zukuri) technique, and what is the origin of its name?

Slab building is a traditional pottery technique where clay is rolled or sliced into flat sheets of uniform thickness (slabs) using wires or strings. These slabs are then cut, assembled into box shapes, or draped over/into molds to create plates and platters.

The name Tatara is believed to originate from the foot-pedaled bellows used in ancient Japanese ironmaking (Tatara-buki). It historically described artisans stomping on clay with their feet to flatten it into sheets. Today, potters use modern tools such as Tatara guide boards or mechanical slab rollers to easily achieve a perfectly even thickness.