These Ame-glaze bowls are produced on a potter’s wheel by a Mashiko-ware ceramist. Soft Mashiko clay mixed with sand is formed into a thin bowl to which the Ame glaze, known for its beautiful light and dark hues, is applied. Mashiko ware is strongly influenced by the Mingei Japanese folk-art movement of the 1920s and 1930s, which championed the simple beauty of functional, everyday handicrafts. The movement gave birth to a variety of rustic-looking works that exude a gentle aura. The Ame collection, comprised of such basic everyday items as rice bowls, teacups, and plates, represents an evolutionary extension of Mashiko ware from this tradition. The pieces are thinner, lighter, and slightly smaller than their predecessors to accommodate contemporary lifestyles, yet they retain the modest simplicity of Mingei. The light and shade of the brown glaze adds to the profundity of their presence.
