HASAMI Porcelain Bowl
This is a product (TRACE) created through in-depth research on Amakusa pottery stone, the raw material for porcelain.
Various types of natural resources are used in ceramic materials. "TRACE" was born by tracing the traces left by each resource and drawing inspiration from them.
In this series, two types of materials are used: "Shimaishi" (striped stone), which is considered low-grade among pottery stones and is not often used for tableware, and "Dattetsu Sludge," which is generated in the process of ceramic production and discarded as industrial waste.
Shimaishi is a stone that contains a high amount of iron. It is lower in rank and more difficult to handle compared to the "Tokujou" stone (pure white pottery stone without iron content), so it hasn't been widely used in the Hizen region (Note: Arita and Mikawachi kilns have traditionally produced offerings with demand for pure white ceramics. Pottery stones are categorized, and the highest rank "Tokujou" is currently said to make up only 1-2% of natural resources).
While creating TRACE, the history of Shimaishi was explored. The strength of Shimaishi, the sense of ancient times it conveys, and the allure of the flow of time that Shimaishi possesses were appreciated. Consequently, Shimaishi was chosen as a material for the fabric of "TRACE"
Inside the black bowl, a glossy black glaze with oil droplets called "Yuteki Temmoku" is applied, while the outside is fired without glaze to preserve the texture of Shimaishi. The rough touch of Shimaishi gives a simple warmth.
"TRACE" means "traces." On the cross-section of the Shimaishi mined from the mountains of Amakusa in Kumamoto Prefecture, you can see many striped patterns. This pattern is said to have appeared 14 million years ago when the pottery stone was immersed in acidic groundwater due to hydrothermal activity, causing the iron content in the pottery stone to discolor and appear as striped patterns. This series, born through in-depth research on Amakusa pottery stone, the raw material for porcelain, allows you to feel the ancient past in the present day.