Japanese Pottery Glossary
Shino (Mino ware)
Shino (Mino ware) is a thick, creamy-white feldspar-based glaze style of Mino ware (Mino-yaki) from Gifu Prefecture, developed in the Momoyama period. Shino is celebrated for its irregular, pitted surface,...
Shino (Mino ware)
Shino (Mino ware) is a thick, creamy-white feldspar-based glaze style of Mino ware (Mino-yaki) from Gifu Prefecture, developed in the Momoyama period. Shino is celebrated for its irregular, pitted surface,...
Vidoro(Bidoro)
Vidoro(Bidoro) is a pooling of natural ash glaze that melts into a vivid, glass-like green on wood-fired japanese pottery — especially Iga and Shigaraki ware. The word comes from the Portuguese vidro ("glass")....
Vidoro(Bidoro)
Vidoro(Bidoro) is a pooling of natural ash glaze that melts into a vivid, glass-like green on wood-fired japanese pottery — especially Iga and Shigaraki ware. The word comes from the Portuguese vidro ("glass")....
Medome(Sealing,Seasoning)
Medome(Sealing,Seasoning) is the practice of sealing a new, porous piece before first use. Because unglazed high-fired ware (yakishime), donabe clay pots, and pieces with crazing are absorbent, you boil the piece...
Medome(Sealing,Seasoning)
Medome(Sealing,Seasoning) is the practice of sealing a new, porous piece before first use. Because unglazed high-fired ware (yakishime), donabe clay pots, and pieces with crazing are absorbent, you boil the piece...
Shizen-yu
Shizen-yu is a glaze that forms naturally — no glaze is applied by hand. During long wood-firing, ash from the burning firewood swirls through the kiln, settles on the clay,...
Shizen-yu
Shizen-yu is a glaze that forms naturally — no glaze is applied by hand. During long wood-firing, ash from the burning firewood swirls through the kiln, settles on the clay,...
Yō no bi
Yō no bi — "beauty through utility" — is the idea that true beauty arises from function and honest, daily use. It is the guiding principle of the Mingei (folk craft)...
Yō no bi
Yō no bi — "beauty through utility" — is the idea that true beauty arises from function and honest, daily use. It is the guiding principle of the Mingei (folk craft)...
Hidasuki
Hidasuki is the vivid scarlet cord-like markings seen on Bizen ware. Before firing, rice straw is wrapped around the piece; in the flame, minerals in the straw react with the iron-rich...
Hidasuki
Hidasuki is the vivid scarlet cord-like markings seen on Bizen ware. Before firing, rice straw is wrapped around the piece; in the flame, minerals in the straw react with the iron-rich...