Buddhism - Calligraphy - Clay - Enamels - Glazes - Korean potters - Yamato wares.

This compact reference explains the basic terms, processes, classifications, tools, materials and techniques of Japanese potters. Everyone interested in pottery and crafts will find this practical guide a valuable addition to both bookshelf and workshop. Penny Simpson, an English potter living in Japan, and Kanji Sodeoka, her Japanese colleague, have compiled a step-by-step manual of the way pots are made in Japan, their forms, and their decorations. The authors give a thorough account of both traditional and modern techniques and also describe in detail tools,

Old, broken objects can become more beautiful than ever! The thought of throwing away a cherished dish or mug can be heartbreaking. If you've ever wanted to repair a treasured piece rather than tossing it in the trash--but didn't know how--the traditional Japanese art of Kintsugi ("gold repair") offers the perfect solution! A Beginner's Guide to Kintsugi teaches you the traditional Japanese techniques of pottery and glass repair based on the ancient Wabi Sabi idea that imperfections are beautiful, and visible repairs are part of the "life story" of an object. Author Michihiro Hori provides simple, safe, and inexpensive methods that you can do at home using tools and materials that are readily available online. Hori guides you through the entire process--from assembling and mixing the materials to reconstructing replacements for hopelessly shattered shards. With this book, you'll learn how to: Reinforce cracks, rebuild shattered areas, and apply the time-honored staple technique Fix broken handles so they are fully functional again Safely work with lacquer and metallic powders to achieve beautiful, visible repairs Work with a variety of repair materials from gold leaf to washi paper Repair pottery and glass using traditional techniques for stunning results As you take the time to prepare your materials and work closely with the pieces, you'll find yourself becoming attuned to the mindful philosophy at the heart of Kintsugi and the Wabi Sabi principle of appreciating old and imperfect objects. Most of all, the meditative process of Kintsugi will help you look at broken objects in a new way.

This practical and supremely useful manual is the first comprehensive, hands-on introduction to Japanese ceramics. The Japanese ceramics tradition is without compare in its technical and stylistic diversity, its expressive content, and the level of appreciation it enjoys, both in Japan and around the world. Inside Japanese Ceramics focuses on tools, materials, and procedures, and how all of these have influenced the way traditional Japanese ceramics look and feel. A true primer, it concentrates on the basics: setting up a workshop, pot-forming techniques, decoration, glazes, and kilns and firing. It introduces the major methods and styles that are taught in most Japanese workshops, including several representative and well-known wares: Bizen, Mino, Karatsu, Hagi, and Kyoto. While presenting the time-tested techniques of the tradition, author Richard L. Wilson also accommodates modern technologies and materials as appropriate. Wilson has gathered a wealth of information on two fronts—as a researcher of Japanese pottery and art history, and as a potter who has studied and worked for years with master Japanese potters. In his introduction, he provides a short history of Japanese ceramics, and in closing he looks beyond traditional methods toward ways in which Western potters can make Japanese methods their own. Richly illustrated with 24 color plates, over 100 black-and-white photographs, and over 70 instructive line-drawings, Inside Japanese Ceramics is indispensable for potters as well as connoisseurs and collectors of Japanese ceramics. Above all, it is an invitation to participate—to study, make, touch, and use the exquisite products of the Japanese ceramic tradition.

Ash Glazes has been designed as an introduction and practical handbook to this glazing technique, covering the history of ash glazes and the practicalities of collecting and testing wood ashes and transforming them into glazes. It will provide inspiration for working potters and delight all those interested in contemporary ceramics.