The Story of Tamba Part 1

The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo

Permanent event

Counted amongst the six ancient kilns of Japan, Tamba-yaki developed in the late Heian period through the spread of Tokonameya-yaki and Atsumi-yaki of the Tokai region. In the middle ages its produce focused upon urns, jugs and suribachi earthenware without glaze, but in the shift to the early modern era, and the move from the Anagama (cave) kilns to the Noborigama (slope) kilns, tea ware became a popular product combined with many glazes creating colorful decorative surfaces. From this time it has continued to adapt to the age to reach our current era with persistent innovation. This exhibition reflects upon 800 years of history of Tamba-yaki while placing a spotlight on contemporary practitioners and pointing to its future evolution.

[Image: Tamba Copper Glaze Sake Bottle (Late Edo period / late 18th century-19th century]