MORIAGE Technique: Moriage, simply, means “pile up” or “heap up.” Items with this treatment (often mixed with others) are the most common of the Nippon era pieces. It is a general term given to the techniques for decorating the surface of ceramics with three-dimensional patterns using brushes, bamboo skewers, itchin, etc.. It often employs bamboo tubing or an itchin (also spelled icchin, itchin) which is a tool used to draw lines or dots to create a pattern on the surface of a vessel. The itchin used in the Nippon era was a squeezable, conical tool made from paper treated with persimmon juice (an astringent). The size of the metal tip used controlled the thickness of the product squeezed through the tip onto the ware. Slip (clay mixed with water), glaze, or paint was poured into the itchin and then squeezed through the tip onto the surface being decorated. Applying slip with this tool is much like the idea of adding decorations to an iced cake. The slip is raised above the base just like the added decorations are to a cake. The slip may be in its natural state, which is “white,” or colored. Great skill was required to apply slip in this manner.

Other ways moriage is created: the clay may be hand rolled or shaped to a thickness that will create the visual effect desired and then applied to the biscuit. Another method of applying Moriage of which we are aware is to thin the slip to a liquified state called Hakeme and brush it on to create a delicate, raised design. We learn in the Noritake Museum Book that white mud plaster is used to build up heavy areas and is applied with a knife. When the clay is heavily applied it may appear to be a molded item. As a general rule, if you look inside to see if the “negative” of the design on the front is reflected inside you will know it is molded. If not, likely it is an item with heavy moriage.

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