Hojo: new Akitsu Mumyoi wares up (new clay)

[pedant]

Hojo / Watanabe Tozo have some new wares available

intro: (more info on his 'available lineup' page)
https://www.facebook.com/hojotea/posts/1001139959898952

it's supposed to be pretty similar in performance to Shimizu Ken's Mumyoi clay.

he has oxidation:


along with two levels of reduction: regular


and carbonized (even more intense rounding/aftertaste):


a bunch of the pieces are nice and tiny...


(80 mL)

[Alex]

Yeah clay looks great. Didn't see any shapes or forms I liked though. Like the colour of the reduction though.

[William]

So niiiice these new teapots!

[impromptuandy]

Interesting that he used two kinds of reduction. I wonder why that is.

[Tead Off]

Interesting that he used two kinds of reduction. I wonder why that is.

These are lovely looking. These are some of the nicest pots I've seen from Hojo's Sado Island clays.

The difference in reduction color can be due to the placement in the kiln or a deliberate shortening of the time to achieve the lovely color.

[Alex]

I think The brown is normal reduction and the darker is the one where they cover in rice husks and do it.

[pedant]

you are right, carbonized reduction is done with rice husks i guess.

i'm going to try to get one of the new carbonized hohins...

[Alex]

The hohins are very cute. Am tempted!

Weird there's only two reduction pots up.

[William]

The hohins are very cute. Am tempted!

I am tempted too! Are they easy handled?

[Alex]

Yeah the lips are nice size and would be fine for Japanese greens. Tozo always does oversized features which while some may not like aesthetically they are always easy to handle with big easy to grab knobs Etc

His pieces are always very heavy with thick walls so take that in to account as well

[impromptuandy]

The difference in reduction color can be due to the placement in the kiln or a deliberate shortening of the time to achieve the lovely color.

I meant in terms of function. I know Hojo's idea is that the oxidation-fired pots generally give more body, while the reduction-fired pots give more aftertaste -- so why the additional "level" of reduction.

Originally I was thinking the rice husk/charcoal burying was the new technique, but it looks like the other reduction-fired pots (Shimizu Ken's) were fired this way also. So it's the reduction-firing without rice husks/charcoal that's new, I think. I guess to give an "intermediate" option on the body/aftertaste spectrum? Sometimes I just wish Hojo would say the clays are magic and be done with it...

The pots are indeed lovely. Lots of nice sizes too.

I am tempted too! Are they easy handled?

I've got one of Shimizu Ken's hohins and it handles very well. The "ridge" around where the lid rests is a little shorter on these than on the one I have, but it looks like there's enough height to get a good grip.

[Alex]

Yeah just to give intermediate option. But given I can't guess his clays in a blind test I'd just go for whatever you like the look of. Myself I like the look of red clays. OK I can spot the dark reduction and I find the smoothness a little too much, it's a little overly rounding. I bet the standard would have a nice balance probably like tachi banko wares.

[Tead Off]

I was under the impression that rice husks would not give an even color. Reduction firing is done at the end of a firing, depriving the kiln of oxygen. I'm a little amazed that the color can be so even. Does anyone have a link to Hojo's description of firing this type with rice husks?

[Chip]

... must resist ...



Obviously, not cheap, but very nice forms and clay.

[William]

Yeah the lips are nice size and would be fine for Japanese greens. Tozo always does oversized features which while some may not like aesthetically they are always easy to handle with big easy to grab knobs Etc

His pieces are always very heavy with thick walls so take that in to account as well

Thanks!