April 29, 2011

• April 29, 2011 Miyama

   

  Our first trip to Miyama was fun, so we decided to go again with DH.  The sign welcomes us to Miyama, the heart of Satsuma Ware country.

  

  These were in a roadside shop.  I imagine that clays of different colors were melded together to create a striped effect.  These were nice, but I just took a picture.

  

  Here is a map of the area and its kilns.

  

  Here is an artist painting a design on a vase.

  

  This is a potter at the Chinju-kan kiln, one of Kagoshima's most famous.  He is carving clay to shape a dish.

  

  

  Clay shavings

  

  Bamboo shooting up from the shards behind the Chinju-kan shop.

  

  Here is a delighted shard freak in shard heaven!!

  

  Here's a good one!

  

  Wood for the kiln

  

  This part of the kiln is sealed.  Perhaps this part is already loaded up and ready to bake.

  

  One of the kiln chambers

  

  DH poses beside the kiln and its chambers.

  

     

  These were on display in a small Chinjyu-kan museum.

  

  Satsuma Ware handles for fusuma (sliding paper doors).

  

   Bunny

  

  A lovely tea ceremony bowl from the museum.

  

  Across the street we found some action going on.  This kiln is called the 400 Year Kiln.  Perhaps they mean that a kiln has been located here for 400 years.

  

  This fellow was in charge of feeding the fire.

  

  They were baking pizza in this kiln today.  (^-^)

  

  This is a replica of a shard hill where imperfect or broken pieces of pottery were tossed aside.  Shard freak Dotter expresses chagrin that she cannot take any samples home.

  There was one shop that I had wanted to visit to replace a piece that was broken in the 3/2011 quake, but it just so happened to be closed that day.  I could see the cup I wanted in the window.  So close and yet so far!

  • 08:32
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