26266 Nakagawa Jinenbo Korean Karatsu Water Jar

Height 5.0cm
Diameter 29.2cm

Nakagawa Shizenbo (1953-2011) was a ceramic artist from Saga Prefecture who, after graduating from high school, studied under Inoue Toya and pursued a career in ceramics. At the Nakagawa Shizenbo Kiln, in addition to Chosen Karatsu, various styles of Karatsu ware are produced, including Hakeme Karatsu, Kohiki Karatsu, Madara Karatsu, Mishima Karatsu, and Kuro Karatsu.

"Korean Karatsu" is a style in which white straw ash glaze and black iron glaze are applied separately, or the two glazes are mixed together.
This was the most eye-catching piece of pottery from Kokaratsu, fully demonstrating the skill of the potters.

The most difficult part of making Korean Karatsu ware is the firing. The white straw ash glaze and the black iron glaze have different melting points, so if the firing temperature is not high enough, the straw ash glaze will not flow, and if the temperature is too high, the straw ash glaze will cover the iron glaze, making it very difficult to get the glaze to flow as desired.

However, when the black and white are mixed together, the designs are magnificent, and the subtle blue, purple, and yellow colors that emerge at the borders are a testament to the artist's skill.

Among the many Karatsu wares, Shizenbo's Korean Karatsu is rich in vibrant dynamism and rich colors, and is sure to catch the eye in any setting.
This is because the coarse, iron-rich homemade clay works well with the glaze to enrich the color and texture, not only creating a beautiful glaze but also allowing the bold earthenware color to be seen even through the glaze.
However, one of the characteristics of Chosen Karatsu from Shizenbo Kiln is that each piece is unique.