ご案内
岡山県備前市にある備前焼窯元「鳴瀧窯」さんの製品取り扱いを新たにさせていただきます。
「鳴瀧窯」の商品はこちらから。
Information
We are pleased to announce that we are now handling the products of Narutaki Kiln, a Bizen Pottery located in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture.
Click here to see the Narutaki Kiln products.
⬜︎備前焼について
備前焼は、岡山県備前市周辺で作られる、日本六古窯のひとつに数えられる伝統的な焼き物です。釉薬（ゆうやく）を使わず、約1200〜1300℃の高温で長時間焼き締めるのが特徴で、素朴で力強い風合いが魅力です。焼成中にできる「胡麻（ごま）」「桟切（さんぎり）」「緋襷（ひだすき）」などの自然な模様も個性のひとつ。使い込むほどに味わいが増し、茶器や酒器、花器として古くから親しまれています。
備前焼の起源は平安時代末期〜鎌倉時代初期（12世紀頃）にさかのぼります。
当初は、須恵器（すえき）の技術を受け継いだ「伊部焼（いんべやき）」として始まりました。伊部は現在の岡山県備前市伊部地区で、備前焼の中心地です。
室町〜安土桃山時代にかけて、日本国内で茶の湯文化が広まり、侘び寂びの精神と相性の良い備前焼が、茶人たちに重宝されるようになります。特に千利休らの好みにより、釉薬を使わない素朴で土味のある器が高く評価されました。
江戸初期には、藩の保護のもと備前焼が栄え、藩窯（はんよう）として制度化されるほどの重要な産業になります。その後は日常使いの器（壺、甕、皿など）も多く作られ、庶民にも広がりました。
明治維新後の藩の庇護がなくなり、一時衰退しますが、20世紀に入ってから再評価が進み、多くの人間国宝を輩出。
現在では、伝統を守りながらも、現代的な感性を取り入れた作品も多く制作され、国内外で高く評価されています。
⬜︎Bizen Ware
Bizen Ware is a traditional pottery produced in the area around Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, and is one of the six oldest kilns in Japan. Bizen Ware is characterized by its simple yet powerful texture, which is produced without glaze and fired at a high temperature of approximately 1,200 to 1,300℃ for a long period of time, about a week. The natural patterns such as “sesame,” “sangiri,” and “hidasuki” that are created during firing are part of its character. The more one uses Bizen Ware, the more the flavor develops, and it has long been popular as tea utensils, sake cups, and flower vases.
The origin of Bizen Ware dates back to the late Heian to early Kamakura periods (around the 12th century).
Initially, it began as “Inbe ware,” which inherited the techniques of Sue Ware. Inbe is now the Inbe district of Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, and is the center of Bizen Ware.
From the Muromachi to Azuchi-Momoyama periods, the tea ceremony culture spread in Japan, and Bizen Ware, which was compatible with the spirit of wabi and Sabi, came to be valued by tea masters. In particular, the simple, earthy flavor of the pottery without glaze was highly appreciated by Sen no Rikyu and his contemporaries.
In the early Edo period, Bizen Ware flourished under the protection of the feudal domain and became such an important industry that it was institutionalized as Han-yo (domain kiln). Later, many daily-use vessels (pots, jars, plates, etc.) were also produced, and Bizen Ware spread to the general public.
After the Meiji Restoration, the industry temporarily declined due to the loss of clan patronage, but it was reevaluated in the 20th century, and many living national treasures were produced.
Today, while preserving tradition, many works incorporating modern sensibilities are produced, and are highly valued both in Japan and abroad.