Japanese Clays and Techniques

[Baisao]

@Yoroko - best wishes!

He doesn’t use shudei AFAIK for any of his pieces. I suspect the clay used in his teapots may be sourced locally from around Lake Biwa as it looks unlike anything I’ve seen from other Japanese potters. It has an unrefined look to it that is obviously not intentionally part of a wabi-sabi aesthetic.

The clay for the kettle is a porous, white clay that can take very high temperatures. If you look him up on Instagram by his kanji you’ll see that he uses the kettle over very high heat.

[faj]

Balthazar I'm also downsizing. For every thing that comes in one has to go. Yes, this is going to be a "fun" one to get hold of

Well, you might want to try posting in the tea swap section . Many of us are not downsizing and, to be frank, out of those that claim to be, I am not sure how many actually achieve the intended result...

[Darbotek]

to be frank, out of those that claim to be, I am not sure how many actually achieve the intended result...

I feel personally attacked lol

What kanji search terms should I be using for a clay kettle? I found a few on the wikipedia entry for senchado, but they seem to be dead ends on my usual hunting grounds.

[faj]

to be frank, out of those that claim to be, I am not sure how many actually achieve the intended result...

I feel personally attacked lol

Well, if that motivates you to put on sales things I would then be glad to purchase, that would make it a friendly attack, wouldn't it?

[Baisao]

What kanji search terms should I be using for a clay kettle? I found a few on the wikipedia entry for senchado, but they seem to be dead ends on my usual hunting grounds.

急須 - or - 京燒

[Victoria]

Yoroko - best wishes!

He doesn’t use shudei AFAIK for any of his pieces. I suspect the clay used in his teapots may be sourced locally from around Lake Biwa as it looks unlike anything I’ve seen from other Japanese potters. It has an unrefined look to it that is obviously not intentionally part of a wabi-sabi aesthetic.

The clay for the kettle is a porous, white clay that can take very high temperatures. If you look him up on Instagram by his kanji you’ll see that he uses the kettle over very high heat.

Looks like it could be a type of unrefined porcelain with a special glaze?

For those asking for links;
Takashi Ichikawa 市川孝
White porcelain 白磁
A bowl he made using porcelain https://www.tokinokumo.com/product-page/市川孝-白磁大深鉢
A link to some of Takashi Ichikawa work https://www.jcrafts.com/eg/shop/special ... kinokumo06
Instagram page takashi_ichikawa1212 市川 孝 https://www.instagram.com/takashi_ichik ... 8dnar13rpz

[Baisao]

Yoroko - best wishes!

He doesn’t use shudei AFAIK for any of his pieces. I suspect the clay used in his teapots may be sourced locally from around Lake Biwa as it looks unlike anything I’ve seen from other Japanese potters. It has an unrefined look to it that is obviously not intentionally part of a wabi-sabi aesthetic.

The clay for the kettle is a porous, white clay that can take very high temperatures. If you look him up on Instagram by his kanji you’ll see that he uses the kettle over very high heat.

Looks like it could be a type of unrefined porcelain with a special glaze?

For those asking for links;
Takashi Ichikawa 市川孝
White porcelain 白磁
A bowl he made using porcelain https://www.tokinokumo.com/product-page/市川孝-白磁大深鉢
A link to some of Takashi Ichikawa work https://www.jcrafts.com/eg/shop/special ... kinokumo06
Instagram page takashi_ichikawa1212 市川 孝 https://www.instagram.com/takashi_ichik ... 8dnar13rpz

If anyone is comparing, the white clay in the above links is different from what he uses for his kettles. The porous white clay does probably have a lot of kaolin as you suggest. It is significantly more porous than the items in the links (I own some items made from that clay and they are more dense and often have a shiny, clear glaze).

My guess is that the clay he choses for the kettles is for heat stability and the matte, porous glaze of the kettles is what makes the change in water texture & flavor. The glaze of the kettles has a semi-transparent look, like alabaster, and is a bit thick like cake icing. The kettle is light for its size owing to how porous the construction is.

The clay of the teapots is altogether different: unrefined, muddy brown, and also porous.

[Yoroko]

Balthazar I'm also downsizing. For every thing that comes in one has to go. Yes, this is going to be a "fun" one to get hold of

Well, you might want to try posting in the tea swap section . Many of us are not downsizing and, to be frank, out of those that claim to be, I am not sure how many actually achieve the intended result...

Would be a pleasure to use the swap section, but I live in Europe (customs, shipping EU to US, import-VAT). Two weeks ago a reduction fired Kyusu (it was to much glazed, because of mixing to much iron-powder to the clay-mixture and - I guess - therefore also burned to hot) was going to a friend in exchange for tea (of course); I was nor holding back the reasons why the Kyusu had to leave – or I use a local selling site. But for the expensive things I keep it in mind.

But I'm curious how long I can keep it up. So far I've only given away "some Volkswagen" and "none of my Rolls-Royce"

Yoroko - best wishes!

He doesn’t use shudei AFAIK for any of his pieces. I suspect the clay used in his teapots may be sourced locally from around Lake Biwa as it looks unlike anything I’ve seen from other Japanese potters. It has an unrefined look to it that is obviously not intentionally part of a wabi-sabi aesthetic.

The clay for the kettle is a porous, white clay that can take very high temperatures. If you look him up on Instagram by his kanji you’ll see that he uses the kettle over very high heat.

I've read that he researches a lot and therefore it makes sense to use a different clay-composition for a heat resistant kettle.
I've found one now on a Japanese site, but it costs $ 12k; I'm checking now if they don't mean Yen. Yen would be very fine, but $, especially US would be an dead end.

And you mention instagram. Victoria postet the link

Yoroko - best wishes!

He doesn’t use shudei AFAIK for any of his pieces. I suspect the clay used in his teapots may be sourced locally from around Lake Biwa as it looks unlike anything I’ve seen from other Japanese potters. It has an unrefined look to it that is obviously not intentionally part of a wabi-sabi aesthetic.

The clay for the kettle is a porous, white clay that can take very high temperatures. If you look him up on Instagram by his kanji you’ll see that he uses the kettle over very high heat.

Looks like it could be a type of unrefined porcelain with a special glaze?

For those asking for links;
Takashi Ichikawa 市川孝
White porcelain 白磁
A bowl he made using porcelain https://www.tokinokumo.com/product-page/市川孝-白磁大深鉢
A link to some of Takashi Ichikawa work https://www.jcrafts.com/eg/shop/special ... kinokumo06
Instagram page takashi_ichikawa1212 市川 孝 https://www.instagram.com/takashi_ichik ... 8dnar13rpz

Thanks for the links and the keywords also in Japanese! The first 2 I've found already, but thank you so much for the instagram link !!

[wave_code]

you could also maybe try contacting Leaf Mania. I'm pretty positive they have shown his work there, so they might be able to look into getting one for you. I haven't bought from them yet, but I have contacted them about a couple of pieces and the communication in English was good and they will ship to Europe.

[Yoroko]

@wave_code Thank you very, very much! They have also very nice rustic teacups; I like the EYI2028; but out of stock - great advice !

[LeoFox]

@pedant

https://www.thes-du-japon.com/index.php ... cts_id=993

Sasaoka Hôzan was the daughter of the banko-yaki potter Shunzan, famous for his teapots made using the “tebineri” technique, that is, hand-shaped directly, without the use of a potter’s wheel. Hôzan learned and perpetuated this technique, which is typical of banko-yaki, but has now virtually disappeared.
Tebineri teapots, especially the lids, are not as precise as teapots made on a wheel, but their very individual shapes and surfaces are what make them charming.
A unique piece.

Another technique to add (tebineri)?

Maybe this one is not the most elegant example but I kind of like these rough hewn looks.


Another example:

https://www.thes-du-japon.com/index.php ... cts_id=873

[Baisao]

pedant

https://www.thes-du-japon.com/index.php ... cts_id=993

Another technique to add?

Or to forget about, hahahaha!

[Yoroko]

pedant

https://www.thes-du-japon.com/index.php ... cts_id=993

Another technique to add?

Or to forget about, hahahaha!

Yeap

One more to add:

[TeaTotaling]

Any recommendations for Japanese clays that pair well with Gyokuro? Or, maybe a potter who's blend/clay might be an ideal fit?

[LeoFox]

Any recommendations for Japanese clays that pair well with Gyokuro? Or, maybe a potter who's blend/clay might be an ideal fit?

I heard hokujo is a big gyokuro drinker