Japan Unknown
Unknown: Shigaraki Vase

stoneware
12 x 6.5 x 6.5 in.
2015.82
Gift of Stephen and Sophie Mathonnet-VanderWell

Home of one of the Six Ancient Kilns in Japan, the town of Shigaraki is known for its feldspar-rich clay beds. When fired, feldspar melts and bursts, resulting in final vessels that are studded with irregular gray deposits. Shigaraki kilns are recognized for their mass production of jars, which were often hand built from coils to achieve great size before a wheel-thrown neck was attached for the firing. This vase was constructed from slabs of clay rather than coils, giving it a rectangular rather than round shape. This vessel is also decorated with gestural carvings that are typical of Shigaraki-style vases. The irregular forms and glazing, bursts of chunky feldspar, and loose gestural decoration of Shigaraki vases made them a popular choice for use in wabi-style tea ceremonies.

Text Panel from the exhibition Chanoyu: Ceramic Art in Japanese Tea Ceremony
March 16 – April 7, 2019
Groot Gallery
Co-curated by students and faculty from Carleton College and St. Olaf College