Hagi-ware’s color changing

Hagi-ware has a specific feature that other potteries don’t have. That is what is called “Hagi-ware’s color changing”. 

That means, if you continue using Hagi-ware, the color changes gradually. The reason is as follows; the clay used for Hgi-ware is not so fine and has low pyrometric cone equivalent that firing only once is not enough to make Hagi-ware stiff. Because of this fact, sometimes glaze is covered with the wares. 

With the use of glaze, the difference of shrinkage ratio between glaze and clay makes chaps when firing completes. Clay has some water absorbability and water get through from the chaps. When you pour alcohol or tea, the components bond to the ware. This gradual change makes Hagi-ware’s color change. This is called “Hagi-no-Nanabake (literally, the seven change of Hagi-ware)” in Japan. Although those color-changed ware comes in handy because they are pleasant, even some users in Japan misunderstand that the wares became filthy.

Before

After

Do you notice something like cracks?

When I met some craftsmen making Hagi-ware, many of them said “some users complain because they don’t know Hagi-ware’s color changing”. They also mentioned “although the color changing is the very feature of Hagi-ware, most of the users don’t know the fact”. What was worse, some of them even said “foreigners can’t tell this authenticity”.

Through these experiences, I decided to write the article about Hagi-ware’s color changing. I know that I can’t tell the authenticity by only these sentences and some photos, but after you read this article. I’d like you to ask something.

“Hagi-ware’s color changing”. Which do you think, the wares are mere filthy, or beautiful ?


Written by Yabuuchi