March 26, 2010

• 3/27/2010 Takatori Kiln in Fukuoka

  Today's "go somewhere" is to the Takatori kiln located in Fukuoka.  (Click here to see more pictures of this kiln.)This place is close enough from where we lived to get there by bike.  There is a wood-burning kiln on the property that was used in former times, but as the city of Fukuoka grew up around it, this kiln fell into disuse because the smoke from the wooden fire caused sooty problems in the neighborhood.  The pottery is now produced using a kiln fueled by gas.  In some respects I found that Takatori Ware is similar to Karatsu Ware, but in my humble opinion, both the clay and the glaze of Karatsu Ware has a grainier quality.  Takatori Yaki uses a finer grained clay and a more glass-like glaze.

  

  Here is the first chamber of the kiln where the wood was inserted and burned.  Behind this chamber are several more chambers into which are placed the pottery that is to be baked, seen below.

  

  This kiln is built on an incline with the rear chambers higher than those located in the front.

  

  This water vessel is from 1614.

  

  Here is a tea caddy on display in the showroom.  In the background are other tea caddies wrapped in cloth bags.  There were many pottery items , but I will just show my two favorite ones here.

  

  This is a water jar that would be used in a tea ceremony.  I love the way the glaze has dripped and run down the side of this vessel.

  

  Here is another example of Takatori Ware that I would have loved to have brought home.  The two different kinds of glaze used seem to give this water jar two different "faces."

  

  This is a small "building" that is supposed to be the dwelling of kiln god.

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