Wabi sabi - patina of use over time:
JICON aims to delve into the true essence of porcelain. In a similar way that antique French porcelain shows the age and years of use over time, JICON pieces change slowly over time with use. The semi-mat texture and the milky whiteness of the glaze (known as haku-ji) combine to allow the signs of use to emerge, more than you would see in mass produced or standard shiny white porcelain. There might be some knife marks on the white plates from the dinners over the years for example. JICON calls this the process of cherishing - savouring the varying expressions of the porcelain as time passes by. The visible marks of use seen on traditional haku-ji pieces in Japan are thought of as 'scenery' and have been enjoyed over centuries of haku-ji porcelain use. This appreciation taps into the deep concept of appreciating the passage of time that is so essential to Japanese culture.
The Touetsugama kiln has a history of 350 years in Japan. The kiln makes porcelains for daily life with its traditional white porcelain techniques using Amakusa Touseki (porcelain stone).
The glazes:
The original white JICON series is made in the famous creamy white porcelain amakusa touseki. Instead of the perfect bluish-white shiny porcelain more commonly seen, JICON created an unbleached whiteness with a half-mat texture to bring out the materiality of the ware. The white glaze is made from glaze derived from the ashes of straw. To enhance the texture even further, this glaze is not stirred before application, allowing chance brown spots composed of iron materials in the clay and glaze to subtly emerge. The soft whiteness of this traditionally made glaze complements the slightly antique feel of the pieces.
The kiln has now introduced their Colour series in three tints made by tinting the unbleached white glaze: Nabana Yellow, Asagi Grey, and Rusty Brown. The introduction of the Colour series infuses a sense of universality into the traditional white porcelain, transcending Japanese and Western boundaries.
