There is an area called Akaemachi in Arita-cho, Saga Prefecture, which is famous for Arita porcelain. As its name** suggests, there are many workshops which specialize in producing red pigments in this area, and one of the most representative red pigments which they make is Hana-aka indispensable for Arita porcelain.
According to them, in order to make this pigment, Hana-aka, they put iron rust*** in a large jar filled with water, continue to replace the supernatant liquid generated in the jar every day, and change the iron rust into nano-sized fine particles over about 10 years. How amazing it needs ten years to make one color! Further, according to them, what is the most important is the fineness and purity of particles, and, in order to keep this, they have maintained not the mechanical work but manual, and the use of well water for generations.
The red of Arita porcelain. What have the ancestors in Arita been intending to reflect in this color…?
Note:
*‘Hana’ in Hana-aka means ‘flowers’ and ‘aka’ means ‘red color’ in Japanese.
**’Akae’ in area name, Akae-machi, means ‘red pictures’ in Japanese.
***For example, rust of iron oxide.
有田焼の花赤
有田焼の赤。先人たちはこの色に何を映し出そうとしていたのか…。
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記事更新日:2023/10/05