Iga & Shigaraki Ware
Home > Iga yaki & Shigaraki yaki |
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Iga, the home of Iga yaki, is a small castle town in the mountains of Mie prefecture, famous as the birthplace of Iga ninja. Geographically, Iga is very close to Shigaraki in Shiga prefecture and as a result the wares share certain common characteristics. The origins of Iga yaki are thought to lie in the 13th to 14th centuries, but it first came to provenance in the Muromachi period(1333 - 1573) when it flourished as a producer of tea ceremony wares under the auspices of prominent tea ceremony masters such as Sen no Rikkyu. Many flower vases and mizusashi ( water containers ) produced during the Momoyama period (1568-1615)have been appointed National Cultural Treasures. Once situated on the bed of Lake Biwa (Japan's largest lake), Iga benefitted from the lake's shift east to Shiga pref. due to changes in the earth's crust over 1.2 million years ago. Good quality clay, rich in minerals was left behind and this has made Iga yaki extremely resistant to heat. As a result the wares react well to repeated firing, giving craftsmen an excellent opportunity to experiment with different firing techniques. Iga yaki epitomises the Japanese aesthetic of "wabi sabi" with its rustic appearance and irregular forms. Today the area is home to many craftsmen who push the concept to its limits with purposefully deformed shapes, given extra character by the addition of "katamimi" handles and "herame"( gouges and dents crested with a special tool). Many pieces are covered with the classic "bidoro" glassy glaze which is formed by the ash in a hot kiln. Different effects and finishes are achieved by varying the positions of the pieces in the kiln and securing them with small shells which also leave their mark and add to the overall spontaneity. Inspired and dynamic, Iga ware is a combination of careful planning on the part of the craftsmen and their ability to give free rein to the impetuous forces of nature within the confines of the kiln, producing pieces which are created from the earth and shaped by the nature that surrounds them. |
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( Picture left) Old climbing kiln of Nagatanien which was used between 1832-1970. (Picture right) center of Igayaki production - Marubashira area, Iga |
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See Swiss newspaper article featuring Watanebe Aiko, copyrights « Neue Zürcher Zeitung» | |||||||
Watanabe Aiko's Profile | Atarashi Manabu's Profile | ||||||
Yunomi teacups |
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Guinomi sake cups |
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SOLD |
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Onishi Satoki | |||||||
155 ml / 5.2 fl. oz |
100 ml / 3.3 fl. oz |
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530 ml / 17.9 fl.oz SOLD |
1100 ml / 37 fl.oz SOLD |
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280 ml/9.4 fl. oz |
255 ml/8.6 fl. oz |
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185 ml/6.2 fl. oz |
70-80 ml/2.3-2.7 fl. oz |
90-100 ml/3-3.3 fl. oz |
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220 ml/7.4 fl. oz |
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Ogawa Norikazu | |||||||
cup |
Sake set SOLD | ||||||
Tomita Tadashi | |||||||
Sake pour and cup *Sold separately SOLD |
small plate |
Plate |
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Shigaraki Greyish blue teapot from Hechimon collection |
Shigaraki dobin style teapot from Hechimon collection SOLD |
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Shigaraki small yunomi from Hechimon collection |
Shigaraki Black tea cup & saucer from Hechimon collection |
Shigaraki White glaze tea cup & saucer from Hechimon collection |
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Shigaraki Jizou from Hechimon |
Shigaraki Jizou from Hechimon |
Pig chopstick rests from Hechimon |
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Shigaraki Manekineko cat from Hechimon SOLD |
Shigaraki Three Wise Monkeys from Hechimon |
Shigaraki Owl Trio from Hechimon SOLD |
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Salt pots | Iga clay houjiki (houroku) pot |
Igayaki dobin pot (kettle) |
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White Tiger ornament | Santa Claus |
Sleeping cats from HechimonSOLD |