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Authentic Teaware from around the world

Mino-yaki (美濃焼)

Posted on April 13, 2018 | 0 comments
Mino ware (美濃焼 Mino-yaki) refers to Japanese pottery that was produced in Mino Province around the towns of Toki and Minokamo in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan. Mino was mentioned by name in 905 as a place for fine ash-glazed stoneware. During the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, the use of the potter's wheel and a greater variety of glazes created more sophisticated pottery in Chinese-derived styles. During the Momoyama period, when the tea ceremony stimulated the production of tea wares, many Seto 瀬戸 potters migrated from Owari 尾張 province (Aichi prefecture) to Mino to take advantage of its abundant clay and fuel as well as the patronage of Oda Nobunaga 織田信長 (1534-82 ), leading to the development of distinctive stonewares there. Glazed tea bowls, based on Chinese prototypes but adopting Japanese aesthetics, were produced in great numbers. In the late Momoyama period, the Mino potter Katou Kagenobu 加藤景延 reportedly brought the secrets for producing * Karatsuyaki 唐津焼 to the Mino kilns, and from the 15C Mino kilns produced Karatsu-style wares. The *Noborigama 登窯 (climbing kiln) was introduced from Karatsu. At the same time, Mino kilns also made vessels in the style of *Igayaki 伊賀焼. Mino wares include a range of *Shinoyaki 志野焼 and *Setoyaki 瀬戸焼 types, *Oribeyaki 織部焼, Seiji 青磁 (celadon), and Ofuke 御深井 ware made from Sensou-tsuchi (iron-rich clay) and covered with a wood-ash glaze that turns a transparent pale yellow when fired. White-glazed stonewares first satisfied the demand for Chinese underglaze-decorated porcelain. Porcelain was produced in Mino from the end of the 19c. The excavation of Mino ceramics from Daimyou 大名 residences throughout Japan testifies to their popularity.
There are fifteen different traditionally MINO-YAKI variations. The following four are the most popular ones among them.
SHINO-YAKI: Painted by rich black or brown enamel and gives you a warm and natural impression.
ORIBE-YAKI: Mostly uses dark green colors and are freer from traditional MINO-YAKI design. With its color and the shape, ORIBE-YAKI still looks fresh and unique even among modern items.
KISETO-YAKI: Uses light yellow enamel. With unique green paintings, KISETO-YAKI gives you a refined impression.
SETOKURO-YAKI: A black pottery. The glossy black color was realized by rapid cooking and baking.

In Japan, MINO-YAKI is the most popular pottery. Its share now goes beyond 50% of the Japanese pottery market. You can find the largest concentration of MINO-YAKI potters at Toki city in Gifu prefecture.
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