COLOR CERAMICS Technique: Nippon era Noritake wares made of a dark clay body are made from a clay from the Tokoname or Banko district of Japan. These items resemble Japanese Bizen ware. This area is known for its unique clays, such as shudei (descriptive of its vermillion color), purple, yellow, and white clay. The clay used to create these pieces has a high iron content. Often significant variation in coloring is accomplished by adding impurities to the base clay, but that is not the case with this product. The color is naturally derived. The color can be tweaked through additives or firing with reduced oxidation to result in some becoming a dark color. Decorations added by Noritake using glass paints (enamel) and gold may be found on these pieces. Products made using this clay by the Morimura Group include “Egyptian” and “Arts and Crafts” which are both stoneware. Companies from the Tokoname district are also known for exporting products that were a pressed pottery. These were very practical, more utilitarian items for homes that were called Tokanabe/Tokanabi in the Nippon era.

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