Japanese traditional pottery tableware - Yakimono

Beauty of Utility

The word Yakimono (pottery) means a burnt thing, and indicates earthenware and porcelain whole at the same time.
Japanese pottery (yakimono) had been made since the Neolithic period.
The source of modern pottery was made in about the 16th century.
At that time, pottery has developed chiefly as a tableware of the tea ceremony.
And then, it came to spread in modern days in daily life as miscellaneous goods.

There are words of "You no bi" in Japanese.
These words express the beauty of the daily necessity.
Have you got porcelain as a present? And do you use it now?
It is a white, beautiful thing and patronizes cooking, but the charm of it in itself is slightly weak.
On the other hand, there is really the charm that I want to use in earthenware.
I think that there is the charm of it in the surface design which chance produces with what there is in feel of a material of the soil.

The natural surface of earthenware matches to various dishes.
And, externals of earthenware can amuse us.

Styles of Yakimono

There are various kinds of earthenwares, and they are made in various parts of Japan.
The main homes of them are shown in this figure.
Please refer to Wikipedia for features of them.

Maintenance of earthenware

Earthenware is a porous quality.
Moisture might infiltrate and discolor some earthenware with thin surface painting.
Some people are pleased with this process.

At the beginning to use, boil earthenware and rice of handful with a pan.
When the hot water boils, weaken the fire, and boil during 20 to 30 minutes.
Then shut off the heat, and wait until the hot water is cooled.
Wash it in water, and dry naturally.

If the glaze is thick, soak it to water 10 minutes or more.

And you had better wash it in water before using it usually.