STORY OF THE WORK
Wabi-sabi and tea ceremony pottery fans should be familiar with Karatsu ware.  It is one of the 3 most famous and beloved wabi / rustic tea wares in Japan.   The origin of Karatsu ware is unclear, but in 16th century, Korean potters set their base in Karatsu and has forever set the style and methods of Karatsu ware. 
 
This is a small asymmetrical Karatsu plate from 16th century. Ms. Komatsu repaired the missing portion with a mixture of gold AND silver powder (called KinGin-madara-tsugi).  The small chip shows a gradation of gold and silver.  Gold-powder makers have their own fomulas in mixing gold and silver powder in different proportion to achieve variety of hue.   Creating mixed powder requires professional experience and knoweldge of the micro sizes and weight of different metals in order to create a useable blend. 
 
WHAT IS KARATSU WARE?
Karatsu is known as a rustic stoneware.  The clay shows a coarse aggregate, and the signature mud-yellow-brown tone breathes the sense of "Shibui"渋い (rustic charm), with beautiful abstract landscapes from the glazes or iron oxide brush strokes and the red clay setiments.  It is consider as the representative of Japanese aesthetics and it is collected by many tea ceremony practitioners and patrons. 
 
One of the unmistakable characteristics of karatsu ware is the translucent grey ash glaze. Another iconic feature is the intentional scraping of the clay surface to create a scorched texture call chirimen, also the spiral mound at the center of the base, which artisans intentionally create when trimming the footing. 

 
OUR COMMITMENT
To show our respect to this rare craft and wabisabi, we only showcase works repaired with authentic method done in Japan. 
we do not break new pottery and repair it to create inventory.  Each piece comes with history and story.
we do not forge imperfection. All blemishes, imperfection you see is of the vessel's original state from the maker or from aging. 
 
Peer through fancy packaging and romanticized philosophy about Kinstugi.  Be educated from the resource represented by Japan artisans to truly appreciate this craft.
 
THE ARTISAN
Tomoko Komatsu
 
** The identification of pottery is an estimation based on style, characteristics, stamps or signature, and coloration/discoloration. We do not provide appraisal or authentication of origin.  Authenticity described above is on kintsugi repair work, all done by Tomoko Komatsu.  
 
*** We do not offer exchange or refund on Kintsugi items. 
 
SHIPS FROM JAPAN
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