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“Anagama is a Japanese word used to designate
a cave kiln, a type of kiln that has its origins in
ancient times. I was captivated by the simple
wood-ﬁ ring and the image has remained in my
heart. After living in London for a while, I found
I was missing the ﬂ ames, smoke and smell of
burning wood so much that I decided to build my
‘anagama’ for myself.
My kiln design is based on various mediæval kilns
in Japan, and when I met Furutani Michio (1946
- 2000) in Shigaraki, an outstanding potter and
a master kiln-builder, he kindly passed on to me
ANTIQUES
his secret techniques of ‘anagama’ building. My
ﬁ rst kiln “Moby Dick” was built in Aldbury, Tring,
Hertfordshire in 1995. I have designed and built
many wood-ﬁ red kilns since my ﬁ rst “Moby Dick”,
including 8 ‘anagama’ and 11 ‘raku’ kilns. Wood-
With John Bly
ﬁ ring can be done with a simple ‘anagama’ but it is
very temperamental. And success only comes after
many long days of tenacious work coupled with a
really do understand people when they say the 19th century. Apart from this being true of the
good understanding of nature. My life project is to
I
to me “Ah, they don’t make things the way workers in wood, metal and glass I am thinking
build ‘anagama’ with mediæval features because
they used to”. They are lamenting the passing particularly about the potter, and just one potter
I admire the wisdom of ancient potters. I only use
of the old ways, the old high standards of in particular - Masaaki ‘Gas’ Kimishima . Gas is
Raku kilns for quick ﬁ red pots. Although these pots
workmanship and skills, and they think, because among the most highly respected authorities on,
are rather fragile, they are ideal for tea drinking and
I deal in antiques, that I will agree in an almost and makes some of the most sought after examples
have softer textures. Anagama ﬁ red pots are very
conspiratorial way that the young just don’t have of, Rakuyaki or Raku ware, a form of Japanese
sturdy after over a week of ﬁ ring.”
the training or the discipline or the incentive to pottery which has remained largely unchanged
The pieces created by Gas and his fellow potters
create new and individual works of quality for use in form, material and method for centuries. The
defy description in a brief article; there are too
and decoration. Such a concept grew into general term raku originated in reference to the site where
many different facets to be taken into account.
acceptance during the early post-World War II clay was dug in Kyoto as long ago as the late
The variations in surface and colour, the density
period and has remained as a sort of cocktail 16th century and can be traced in the Kanji
and unpredictable look to the body all require
party comment ever since. I must admit that most character meaning “enjoyment”. It is interwoven
an understanding of the potter’s craft while at the
often I tend to nod in agreement to save a lengthy with the complexities of Japanese culture, being
same time they can be enjoyed and appreciated
discussion but in fact today the assumption could not especially associated with the production of bowls
by someone who knows nothing of the subject.
be further from the truth. One has only to look at the for the Japanese Tea Ceremony. These bowls
But like anything worthwhile, once you begin to
work of young designers and makers of furniture, are hand-made from earthenware and each is
comprehend a little it becomes a richly rewarding
jewellery, glass, precious and other metalwares unique. The technique involves ﬁ ring at moderate
and beguiling subject.
to be aware of this. The designs are original, temperatures and sometimes removing pieces from
Gas is more than an inspired and talented potter;
and full and wonderful use is made of all the new the kiln when still glowing hot. The kiln associated
he is a recognised authority on early Oriental
technology available to them. with Raku is even more ancient, dating back to
ceramics and has been responsible for identifying
Maybe there’s the nub; it’s the use of machinery medieval times. Known as an Anagama kiln it is
and re-appraising a number of long lost treasures
that takes the hard work out of everything and more than an ancient Japanese pottery tradition,
among great collections worldwide, and most
therefore lowers quality. Well that is nonsense of for it encompasses the spiritual experience shared
recently has discovered some iconic pieces in our
course. The potential advantages that machines between fellow potters. The earliest such kilns
own Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. But it is
provide demand greater accuracy and therefore were often built into the side of a hill to create a
Gas in his ‘potter’ roll that I ﬁ nd the most reassuring,
greater care in execution, and anyway every better draft, and it was during the creation of an
for from now on if anyone should say to me “They
generation has been saying similar things since Anagama in a sloping ﬁ eld belonging to a friend
don’t make things like they used to” I shall simply
the invention of the wheel. So if the criticism is of mine that I ﬁ rst met Gas. He was building his
refer them to this article and to Gas and reply “Oh
aimed at innovative production then surely the most own kiln with such and seemingly carefree gusto
yes they do”!
signiﬁ cant counter is the fact that during the last that we had to photograph the process to show the
twenty years there has been the greatest revival precision he achieved with no more than two sticks Tel: 01442 384 789
of traditional methods of production in the crafts and a piece of string. I shall let Gas take over in his Email: pot@anagama.co.uk
industry that we have witnessed since the end of own words. www.anagama.co.uk
64 | MARCH ISSUE
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