KARATSU YAKI (唐津焼き)-Ceramics of Saga Prefecture

http://karatsuyaki-kamamoto.jp/english/

Types of Karatsu Ware

E-garatsu (picture Karatsu)

Madara (speckled)

Ao Karatsu (blue)

Ki Karatsu (yellow)

Kuro (black ) 

Chosen (Korean style)

Hori Karatsu (carved)

Kohiki (White slipware)

Mishima (stamp/slip inlay)

There are currently (2019) 61 listed kiln in Karatsu.

E-garatsu
Generic Karatsu Mark (からつ)

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This is Kuro Karatsu or Black Karatsu ware, Nakazato Tarouemon-gama

Pair of Yunomi by Nakazato Tarouemon 14 Gama

http://karatsuyaki-kamamoto.jp/english/pdf/48_nakazatotarouemontoubou.pdf

This is the Nakazato Tarouemon MARK

Nakazato Tarouemon kiln 14 Kiln papers

Nakazato Taroemon Toubo tomobako mark close up

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E-garatsu dipping dishes

By Touyou 陶陽 The kiln is located in Fukuoka Prefecture on Itoshima.

We visited a wonderful shop just north of Karatsu station called Homura. The link for the store, although only in Japanese, is: http://www.karatsuyaki.com/.  The sales staff were friendly and informative.  I never knew there were so many types of Karatsu ware. The store carries wares from 35 kilns in the Karatsu area.

E-garatsu tumbler 

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E-garatsu tea bowl, Ryuufukuji-gama

Ryuufukuji-gama papers

http://karatsuyaki-kamamoto.jp/english/pdf/65_ryufukujigama.pdf

E-garatsu guinomi sake cup, Hinata-gama

    http://karatsuyaki-kamamoto.jp/english/pdf/52_hinatagama.pdf

I love this one! This is by Hirayama Kenji of Nakanotsuji Gama

http://www.e-yakimono.net/html/karatsu-markings.html

There are many styles of Karatsu-yaki
E-garatsu, Madara-garatsu, Chozen-garatsu, Mishima-garatsu, Kuro-garatsu, Ao-garatsu, Hori-garatsu, Mugi-garatsu, Hakeme-garatsu, Jakatsu-garatsu, Okugori-garatsu, seto-garatsu.

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Tokusawa Mitsunori works in Fukuoka but in the Karatsu tradition. 

MIYAJIMA YAKI (宮島焼き)-Ceramics of Hiroshima Prefecture

Miyajima-yaki is not one of the most well known types of Japanese pottery. Miyajima is the little Island near Hiroshima with the orange torii gate that sits out in the water.  It is a lovely place to visit. Besides the famous shrine with the torii gate, they are also known for Japanese maple leaves or momiji.  When we were there I noticed many of the shops had pottery so we asked them where it came from.  They actually make it there on Miyajima! Here is a sample of the pottery they make there.
The story is told that travelers would take the sacred sands from under the Itsukushima shrine when they left on a trip, they would take some sands from the place they visited and mix it and bring it back to the shrine. It became a way of wishing one safe travels or for new beginnings. 

https://miyajimayaki.jp/concept/

Set of cups (meoto) with maple leaf design.

OSUNA-YAKI
Osuna-yaki is pottery of Miyajima. It traditionally used sand from the shrine. I found this lovely sencha set by Kawahara Tosai at a charity shop.

Just as you arrive at Miyajima you see the Kawahara Tosai store which I believe was established in Showa 14. The set does not appear to have been used and is in pristine condition. The box is an old style box and has worn with age.

                       

                                                        Nine piece sensha set.

        

ITSUKAKU YAKI (一角焼)

Itsukaku Yaki was pottery of the Itsukushima Shrine. The sands around the shrine were used to make carved pottery with the shrine and tori gate. It is most often referenced with other 3D wares on the Internet under Banko. Banko ware is not the only ware that used this carved 3D technique. In fact you'll find it in Tobe porcelain, Akita and in a few other areas in Japan. It is no longer made on Miyajima and I was hard-pressed to find anything about it on the Internet. It just disappeared. 

The ones made on Miyajima made ware specifically use the tori, shrine and mountain motif. They usually will have written in Japanese sousho script Itsukushima Jinja (厳島神社) on them. I want to thank a follower, Gerry, who first brought this type of pottery to my attention a couple of years ago. Since then I have finally found my own little vase to share with you.

 

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