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The Art of Japanese Porcelain

Porcelain production: tools, methods, and materials
磁器の製作工程と道具

The town of Arita was the porcelain centre of Japan. The discovery of porcelain clay deposits in the 1610s with technology and knowledge from China and Korea enabled its success.

Arita and the surrounding region still produces porcelain today. For efficiency and uniformity, modern methods such as slip-casting, where liquid clay is poured into a limestone mould, are used.

Other aspects of production, like the techniques used in underglaze decorating and overglaze painting techniques remain the same since the 1700s.

blue and white dish depicting porcelain production in the town of Arita in the 1830s. Thirty-four artisans perform over twenty different jobs, from making porcelain clay to firing vessels

Large dish with design of Arita Sarayama porcelain workshop
染付有田皿山職人尽し絵図大皿
six pieces of porcelain stone used to make porcelain

Porcelain stone from Izumiyama quarry
泉山陶石
row of tools used for forming, trimming, measuring and painting ceramics

Tools for porcelain production
陶芸道具
Three porcelain mugs in different stages of production, with yellow, pink and blue colour tones

Air-dried, biscuit-fired and high-fired porcelain mugs
成形・素焼・本焼成
a bowl of grey-coloured cobalt oxide powder

Cobalt pigment for underglaze decoration
呉須
two bowls with powdered samples used to make green and red colours

Turquoise and red overglaze enamels for overglaze decoration
絵具
two bowls with leaf and floral pattern paintings

Dishes with design of flowers and leaves
下絵・上絵

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Japanese porcelain in Europe