Each of the 47 prefectures in Japan produces its own ceramic ware with unique aesthetics. Japanese ceramics refer to pottery crafts made of clay, as well as kaolinite-made porcelain wares, which appear whiter and finer with higher degrees of density and hardness.

How are Japanese ceramics made?

Blue and white pottery (called sometsuke in Japanese) is made by painting designs on white bisque fired pottery with a cobalt-rich pigment known as gosu or zaffer. It is then coated with a transparent glaze and glaze fired. This technique has been used in China since the Yuan Dynasty (around the 12th century).

Do Japanese ceramics have lead?

Most overglaze enamels were and still are lead based glazes. The famous Kutani red is a specific formulation containing exactly the right molecular ratio of lead oxide, silica, and red iron oxide. The other traditional Japanese overglaze enamels are also lead flux based.

Are Japanese ceramics lead free?

This Hasami Porcelain ceramic mug (Made In Japan) was negative (non-detect/ND) for Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd) and Arsenic (As) on the glazed elements when tested with an XRF instrument. Other elements found in the glaze: Zinc (Zn): 2,480 +/- 114 ppm. Iron (Fe): 4,174 +/- 288 ppm.

What is Japanese porcelain called?

Thus Arita porcelain is also often known as Imari. Arita ware was the first porcelain product in Japanese history, and strongly influenced European ceramics.