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Japanese Pottery

The first type of Japanese Pottery/Ceramics dates back to 12,000 years ago with Jomon Earthenware. Most pieces from this time were meant for storage and for functional uses such as jugs, teapots, pans and vases. They also made figurines and relics for religious use in ceremonials etc. Their pottery was made by rolling it on straw rope to produce patterns on the clay vessel/body to create different effects. The clay vessels were then baked in fires that were built outside with quite low temperatures which caused the end result to be thick but very brittle and easy to break and shatter. After quite some time pottery had evolved due to the Korean Peninsula bringing over a new method to the Jomon culture and a change had developed in their pottery and also their culture, their pottery had become more simple and effective for functionality compared to what it was before this was called Yayoi Ware. After Yayoi ware there was Sue-ware which was again introduced by the Korean Peninsula which pottery was made with a potters wheel and fired in a kiln at high temperatures. Many types of different functional things were made from this type of clay such as jars, pottery, alcoholic beverages were stored in pots. In around the 7th Century AD a new technique was again introduced from the Korean Peninsula. This technique was combining glaze with molten lead, this caused the lead to turn green because of certain ingredients and reactions happening when it was covered in glaze so it could change colours and create a beautiful effect on the piece at the end. When entering the Nara Era colours of glazes had become more varied such as yellow-brown and even white glaze. They even managed to develop a glaze that could give a bright glossy finish to pottery and utensils. In the Heian Era kilns had been developed to become more suitable for firing and creating better ceramics pieces. In the Muromachi period characteristics started to show on bowls that were being glazed, within the kiln they would put wood ashes that would attach to the pottery when it was heated at high temperatures and create a wonderful effect.

 

Another turning point for the sales and demand for Japanese Pottery was when the tea ceremony was developed during the Momoyama Era, the Tea Ceremony was created so the Japanese could relax and enjoy the company of others and for them to unwind. Tea cups were made especially for this ceremony which became part of the Japanese Heritage which increased demand for pottery. After some time the Japanese had developed another technique to decorate the boring tea cups and pottery with what is called glazed decoration. Glaze decoration was painting the clay piece with flowers and decorations after it was fired the first time. This creation opened new doors to making exquisite and unique pottery pieces because of the many more types of glazes and the fact that glaze decoration was created. Also another development and introduction with weird shaped  crooked utensils for the tea ceremony. In the Edo period porcelain was born because of the increased amount of potters travelling from the Korean Peninsula the first attempts of porcelain were successful. New developments were happening during the Edo period such as adding pictures to pottery, more colours and discovering new effects. In the Meiji Era porcelain dolls were starting to take form and shape, pottery goods were also in high demand and were becoming very popular as things to decorate peoples homes etc.

 







History | Explore Japanese Ceramics. 2013. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.explorejapaneseceramics.com/basic/general/history.html. [Accessed 20 May 2013].

History of Oriental Ceramics｜The Museum of Oriental Ceramics,Osaka. 2013. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.moco.or.jp/en/intro/history_j.html. [Accessed 20 May 2013].