Shiraiwa-yaki Circle Earrings
Shiraiwa-yaki Circle Earrings
Shiraiwa-yaki Circle Earrings

Shiraiwa-yaki Circle Earrings

￥4,500
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Contemporary earrings made with wintry Akita's traditional pottery

A light, comfortable, and versatile pair of earrings made from traditional Shiraiwa-yaki pottery. A lustrous blue glaze is reministcent of the long-awaited spring thaw in Akita Prefecture, the home of this pottery tradition. 

Studio: Shiraiwa-yaki Waheegama
Origin: Shiraiwa, Akita
Dimensions: 20mm diam (each) 
Weight: 5g (both)
Materials: Shiraiwa-yaki pottery, Namako Glaze, titanium hardware 


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For MEMENTOS Shiraiwa-yaki accessories:

In order to maintain the inherent quality of Shiraiwa Ware, brooches is not coated. 

Handle with care. 

Do not wet the product.  

Avoid excess humidity, aridity, and direct sunlight. 

Avoid sudden temperature changes due to contact with heated or cold objects.  

If the brass fittings begin to darken, wipe with a soft cloth before wearing. To prevent the metal fittings from discoloring, store your brooch in an airtight bag. 

For Shiraiwa-yaki Tableware:

Soak thoroughly with water before use (there is no need to soak these items in rice water or other special methods to prepare them for use.) The golden and platinum plated items should be thoroughly saturated with water the first few times before use as the plated areas are particularly prone to absorbing the smells and colors from food. It is also recommended that tableware used for soy sauce, Japanese sake, and other foods or drinks with strong aromas and colors are soaked in water several times before use.

After using your tableware, quickly wash it with dish soap, rinse, and let it dry thoroughly before storing.

The handmade items from Shiraiwayaki Waheegama often have tiny holes on the surface of the glaze called “Kanyu.” This is not a defect, but rather a special characteristic of this pottery.  

If you are concerned about stains, such as tea stains, on your tableware, we recommend washing the items with salt or baking soda.

You can use items with a dishwasher. However, it is recommended to wash thin pieces by hand.

Avoid using a microwave with golden and platinum plated pieces. All other glazed items can be used with a microwave. 

白岩焼和兵衛窯

Shiraiwayaki Waheegama

This craft was brought to life during the Edo Period when Unshichi Matsumoto, famous for his Oborisoma ware, was invited to Akita as an expert in the transformation of mined materials. Upon discovering the unique and high-quality soil in Shiraiwa, he launched the first Shiraiwayaki kiln, which went on to become a flourishing industry with as many as 5000 potters in its heyday.

However, the craft completely disappeared due to the Akita Semboku Earthquake of 1914, and other various events of the Meiji Period. It remained extinct for 70 years, until Aoi Watanabe's mother, a descendent of Shiraiwayaki potters, revived it as a young university graduate in 1975, an undertaking which was almost unheard of for a female potter at that time. Today there is only one kiln in operation: the Waheegama kiln, run by the Watanabe family.

海鼠釉

Namako Glaze

A traditional glaze with a speckled texture similar to a sea cucumber.

渡邊葵

Aoi Watanabe

Although she voluntarily took over the Waheegama kiln, in the beginning, Aoi Watanabe was not the biggest admirer of the Namako Glaze, preferring more muted designs instead. Her biggest concern was how to make this glaze, which had exclusively been used for folkloric pieces, work in today’s society. As an admirer of Scandinavian designs, she was inspired to express the warmth of the Namako Glaze through more modern designs. Not only does the Shiraiwa craft continue to live on through her contemporary pieces, Aoi's personality also shines through, as she incorporates the gold plating and rokurome techniques she picked up in Kyoto.

Our customers on Aoi Watanabe's works

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