Kata kutani is a line of original kutani ware that eschews kutani's characteristic colorful decorations and instead showcases the traditional shapes (kata) and the beauty of the glaze.
The porcelain clay sourced in the area is naturally grey, and when fired with a white glaze, it turns into beautiful light grey with a hint of celadon. The pieces in the kata kutani line use crackle glaze, which creates cracking effects (kan’nyū) on the finished surface, making them even more graceful.
The gently raised sides and flat surface of the octagonal plate beautifully exemplifies its traditional shape and color.
A Note about Kan’nyū (Crackle Glaze)
Because of the crackling effect, the dishes slowly absorb the colors of food and liquids over time. To minimize this we recommend "seasoning" the dishes before the first use.
Dissolve 1 to 2 tablespoons of starch (flour, corn, potato, or rice) in a pot of water and submerge the dishes. Heat over medium heat until the water reaches a gentle boil. Turn off the heat and leave the dishes in the pot. Once cooled, rinse the dishes throughly and dry. This process is called médomé and works for other ceramics, especially hand thrown wares that have porous surface.
Even if you take a good care of kan’nyū dishes, the cracks will almost inevitably absorb some colors. The Japanese enjoy this natural process and call it “raising dishes” as in raising children. We hope you, too, enjoy the unique beauty of the kan’nyū ware.
Specifications
Who Makes It
niguramu is a lifestyle shop in Kanazawa that carries a curated collection of kitchen and household goods created by Japanese designers. They also collaborate with Japanese manufacturers to develop their own line of products.