Bizenware kiln change teapot

This is a kiln change teapot from Mori Ichiro's studio. It is a teapot made from Bizen clay in the shape of a horizontal pot, which is one of the standard shapes of Chinese teapots. It has just the right volume for brewing Chinese or Taiwanese tea.

 

Mr. Mori majored in sculpture, and has excellent sculpting skills, such as beautiful and powerful shapes. While based on tradition, he is exploring new styles of Bizen ware.

 

(Brief biography of Mr. Mori Ichiro)

 

Born in 1981 into the Mori family, a Bizen ware kiln manufacturer.

 

Graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School of Fine Arts, Department of Sculpture in 2008

 

2009 Drift Wood Sculpture Festival (Taipei/Taiwan)

 

2011 Sculpture 575/ (Taipei/Taiwan)

 

2015 THE POWER OF BIZEN (Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, Kigbeare studio & gallery/UK)

 

Bizen ware is pottery that is expressed with earth and fire. It is said that preapring the clay accounts for more than half of the work in Bizen ware, so preparing the clay is an important task.

 

Bizen has soils of various colors and properties, and artists search for clay that suits their work. Bizen clay has coarse particles, making it difficult to make complex shapes like teapots. For this reason, Bizen ware tea utensils are mostly matcha bowls and Houhin, but very few teapots.

 

Bizen soil contains iron. According to a study on Bizen ware kiln changes (the 3rd Okayama Studies Symposium, by Yamaguchi Kazuhiro, Okayama University of Science), the iron content of Bizen clay is about 2-3%.

 

This iron binds with tannins, the bitter component of tea. Therefore, tea brewed in a teapot made from Bizen clay is less bitter and has a smoother taste.

 

We once held a tasting event in Hong Kong using Bizen ware teapots. The tasting was lively, with many participants saying that when they brewed Pu-erh ripe tea, the tea tasted especially smooth. Since taste perception differs from person to person, it is difficult to make a general statement, but we feel that it certainly results in a smoother taste.

 

We feel that Bizen teapots give tea a smoother taste than Tokoname red clay teapots. The iron content of Tokoname red clay is about 5-6%, while that of Bizen clay is about 2-3%, so if we look at the iron content alone, Tokoname red clay should bind more easily with tannins.

 

The reason why tea brewed in a Bizen ware teapot tastes smoother is because the particles of Bizen clay are large, and even after firing there are gaps in the clay, so it absorbs more bitterness. In other words, we think that it is the size of the clay particles and the amount of iron that affect the taste of the tea. The effect of Bizen clay seems to be greater because the particles are larger.

 

Bizen ware does not have patterns painted on the vessels, but the patterns are created by the flow of the flame that changes inside the kiln and the technique. The way the flame hits the vessel changes depending on where it is placed, such as near the entrance to the kiln, on a high place, or near a corner. It is made by nature, which is the flame, and no two vessels are the same.

 

When the kiln is fired, the flame hits the vessel closest to the entrance, and this is how kiln-changed vessels are born. Because the flame hits so strongly, the vessel is prone to warping and cracking, so it is rare for the vessel to be successfully fired.

There are many variations in expression, such as dark gray, light reddish brown, and green. Although kiln change is partly left to chance, there is always effort and intention behind it on the part of the potter.

Pottery is characterized by a warm earthen texture that makes it feel like a product of nature. With Bizen ware, you can feel the natural elements of earth and flame. This teapot is a fusion of Chinese tea culture and Bizen clay, expressing a traditional Chinese teapot called a horizontal pot using Bizen clay.

 

 

Potter: ICHIRO MORI studio

https://moriichiro.com/

 

Firing: Wood-fired kiln

 

Size: Total length 12 cm (including handle and spout), body diameter 8 cm, height 8 cm

 

Capacity: 180 ml

 

Weight: Approximately 140 g

 

Packing: Paper box

 

Notes: There is a hole at the top of the knob on the lid. Since it is handmade, each piece is different.

 

Because the soil particles are coarse, it is difficult to stop the hot water even if you press the hole at the top of the lid. When pouring water, do not tilt the teapot vertically, but pour slowly to ensure smooth pouring.

 

*Bizen ware

 

Bizen ware is pottery made in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture. Bizen ware production began around the end of the Heian period, about 800 years ago. Bizen ware is fired at high temperatures of 1200-1300°C, and because it is sturdy, many pots and jars were initially made. Bizen ware is favored by tea masters for its unique clay texture, and since the Muromachi period (1338-), much pottery for the tea ceremony has been made.

 

The characteristic of Bizen ware is that the clay is not glazed, but is fired as is, and the beauty of the patterns that make use of the taste of the clay. Bizen ware is mainly fired in wood-fired kilns. The main fuel is pine wood, and the pottery is fired over a period of about two weeks.

 

There are two types of clay: rice field clay, which is mainly taken from rice paddies, and mountain clay, which is taken from mountains. The beautiful patterns unique to Bizen ware are created with clay rich in iron, and the clay's blend gives each artist an individual earthenware taste.

 

When Bizen ware gets wet, its color becomes brighter, and the color changes with prolonged use. This change is a major attraction, and you can enjoy watching the piece develop as you use it.