The Mark of Beauty

Bizen Ware (2019x1)

Air date: Feb 11, 2019

This episode features Bizen ware, one of Japan's oldest potteries, with a history stretching back 1,000 years. The pottery is fired for 100 days in wood-fired kilns. The lengthy firing enables the clays to produce alluring colors and backgrounds. We take a look at some examples fashioned into the shape of cattle, sparrows, cats, and other creatures. And we also delve into the story behind the all-important clay used for Bizen ware. The artisans have long used a mixture of 8 different clays.