Suzu pottery is an earthenware,whose material is clay
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Suzu pottery is an earthenware,whose material is clay |
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HISTORY Suzu pottery was manufactured from the Heian period (the 8th century) through the Muromachi period (the 16th century). From the Heiwan period (the 8th century) through the Muromachi period (the 16th Century), pottery wares were manufactured in the area where present Suzu City and Uchiura Town are located at the tip of Noto Peninsula. There are about 30 old kilns found. In the 5th Century, pottery craftsmen from the continent moved to the area and started manufacturing earthenware in the kilns. The Suzu pottery is in lineage of this earthenware. Even after earthenware lost popularity in Japan, Suzu pottery represented one of the characteristic Japan Sea Civilizations during the medieval era. As kilns were built at the tip of the peninsula, earthenware were carried by water ways to Tohoku, various cities in Hokuriku, or as far as Hokkaido. After the 16th century, however, Suzu pottery disappeared. It is not until recently that Suzu City and local volunteers joined forces to revive Suzu pottery. CHARACTERISTICS It is unglazed, black earthenware The characteristic of Suzu pottery is an earthenware, whose material is clay. The strips of clay are put together and then hit to shape to a pottery. The pottery is baked in a kiln in the Kangen-Kusube method. Because of high temperature and no glaze, ashes act as natural glaze, giving ash-dark subdued yet beautiful finish to the pottery. The Suzu pottery is furnished with hitting marks when the clay is hit which come out to be artful patterns. Ayasuki and combed lined patterns and various engraving and markings are also used. In the olden days, mostly daily wares such as pots, jars, mortars were made with a few exception of flower vases. |
