How It’s Made
Bizen ware’s minimalistic style may give you an impression of fewer steps in the process of making but on the contrary.
It often requires an artist’s meticulous planning and patience — and even physical endurance— to create their pieces.
“Bizen ware is an art of clay and fire,” they say. Lack of glaze means an artist’s main effort goes to making and choosing their clay. Most artists today use a particular type of soil called “hiyose.”
Hiyose
Hiyose is soil that’s found in an area of Bizen called Inbe. This is soil that sleeps under rice fields that’s rare to find. It’s fine and sticky, perfect for making ceramics.
Artists mix the hiyose with iron-rich mountain soil and black soil, also found in the region, to come up with their own clay. This is what creates the colors of Bizen ware.
Because the ratio of minerals plays a significant role in the color of a finished piece, many artists make their own clay for their specific needs.
You would often see small mountains of clay laying in their workshops—they lay the clay to create the desired texture for as long as decades before using it.
Molding
Molding today is mainly done by an electric wheel or by hands.
Finished pieces are placed in shades to dry slowly, getting ready to go in a kiln.
Molding today is mainly done by an electric wheel or by hands.
Finished pieces are placed in shades to dry slowly, getting ready to go in a kiln.
Firing
Bizen ware’s unglazed, iron-rich clay is a delicate material: It needs a high temperature to compress, but very slowly. The firing temperature goes up approximately to 1250°C (2282°F). The whole process takes about 10-14 days, almost twice as long as other potteries take, making the ceramics highly durable.
There are a few ways for Yaki-shime that artists use today, and many firing takes place in traditional climbing kilns.
Traditional Firing Method
Firing in the traditional kiln is a big event for Bizen artists since it takes place only once or twice a year. Requiring constant attendance in front of the fire (for over 10 days!), it’s simply physically daunting work.
Traditional Firing Method
Firing in the traditional kiln is a big event for Bizen artists since it takes place only once or twice a year. Requiring constant attendance in front of the fire (for over 10 days!), it’s simply physically daunting work.
This is also when they make full use of their knowledge and experience to breathe life into their pieces.
Key element #1: Arrangement
Because the fire temperature differs depending on location in the kiln, where each piece placed in it determines its final colors and patterns. Here an artist carefully analyzes and figures out the placement of all works and tries to fit them all in one firing. This process takes for days.
Placement of the pieces in a kiln is not the only thing that makes different colors and patterns.
Key element #1: Arrangement
Because the fire temperature differs depending on location in the kiln, where each piece placed in it determines its final colors and patterns. Here an artist carefully analyzes and figures out the placement of all works and tries to fit them all in one firing.
Placement of the pieces in a kiln is not the only thing that makes different colors and patterns.
Key element #2: Art of Fire
How much and when to throw in red pine firewood to the kiln controls the oxidization of flame, its movement, and the amount of charcoal ash.
Bizen ware artists weave all these elements into Bizen ware to create unique colors, patterns, and textures.