Anagama: Collecting Old Pots

Collecting Antique Pots

'Every pot tells a story '
'The beauty of wood-fired pots'

My main interest has always been ancient and Mediæval pots. I studied old pots at the first opportunity and never had a dull moment.

Umi-agari (Ship-wreck pot)

Tokoname, Bizen and Suzu were major potteries in the Mediæval times and produced large storage jars. Strong pots and jars were in great demand and sent far by sea. Some unfortunate cargo ships encountered a storm (probably a typhoon) and sunk.
A few of centuries old pots on the seabed were caught in a trawlnet and treated today as rare treasures.

Suzu Jar
(h.36.5cm d.35.0cm)
Kamakura Period (14th century)
Municipal Museum of Suzu Ware (Ishikawa)

Wood-fired Features :

Deformation and scars may make pots less valuable. However, they are all anagama-fired characters and make each pot unique.

hi-omote
Shigaraki

hi-ura
Shigaraki

shizenyuu
Shigaraki

shizenyuu
Echizen

shizenyuu
Tokoname

shizenyuu
Tanba

shizenyuu
Bizen

kuttsuki
Tokoname

koge
Iga

hi-iro
Shigaraki

Japanese Terms for Wood-fired Pottery and Historical Periods

Characteristics from Mediæval Wood-firing & Techniques

Historical Periods

= Wood-fired Effects =
shizenyuu natural wood ash fused in firing
hi-omote side of pot directly facing flames
hi-ura opposite to hi-omote
hi-iro surface with scarlet speckles
koge scorched surface in hot ember
biidoro molten ash settled like a green bead - expression from Portuguese vidro
nuke surface unaffected by flames
tsuchi-aji tasty looking clay texture

= Accidental Effects =
yohen mysterious firing effects
ishihaze stone burst on surface
kuttsuki or hittsuki pot-sherd stuck on in firing
kama-kizu or yama-kizu minor firing defect
kama-ware or yama-ware big crack from firing

= Technical Features =
Uma-no-tsume wedge shape prop for slant anagama floor
me-ato wad mark
kaiyuu or haiyuu applied wood ash glaze
dobe slip for pourous body to seal
geta-in mark from kick-wheel turntable
kamajirushi incised mark by potter
higakimon incised hedge pattern
kokumon incised sign
kokumei incised writing or product date
kushime incised combing pattern
ou-in stamped seal or pattern

= Esthetics & Rarity =
kase patina or often wear and tear
kin-tsugi restoration with raw lacquer and pure gold
kasugai-tsugi restoration with metal staple - Chinese idea
umiagari shipwreck pot find

Jomon
Yayoi
Kofun (Tumulus)
Asuka (552-710)
Nara (710-794)

Heian
794~1185
Kamkura
1185~1333
Nanboku-cho
1333~1392
Muromachi
1392~1573

Momoyama (1573~1615)
Edo (1615~1868)
Meiji (1868-1912)
Taisho
Showa
Heisei

geta-in
Shigaraki

hittsuki
Shigaraki

kamajirushi
Echizen

nuke
Bizen

kase
Shigaraki

biidoro and higakimon
Shigaraki

koku-mon and ishihaze
Shigaraki

Tell-tale Signs :

Incidents happened in firing are often written on pots. Some are considered to be rather charming and an additional value.

me-ato and biidoro
Shigaraki

yohen
Tokoname

yama-ware
Tokoname

The Beauty of Wood-fired Pots :
    There are many more technical terms used to describe the features of Japanese pottery.
    Many words are intended to explain certain details. Some words are specific to different regions. Some words were invented for the tea ceremony. And they are very often used by art dealers to make the pots sound important and valuable to their customers.
    We don't need any technical terms to appreciate the beauty of wood-fired pots and admire ancient craftmanship.

    Mind you, in the mediæval times, wood was only the best fuel that was available to potters and their 'anagama'. And in each pottery region, pots were made for everyday use.

Click Bizen tokkuri

for restoring broken pottery

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