Location Ishikawa Archaeological Foundation

Kutani Ceramics Kiln Site Artifacts: White Porcelain, Blue and White Pottery, Regular Pottery

The Kutani Ceramics Kiln Site was Honshu island’s first porcelain kiln, opened in the mountainous region of Kutani by the Daishoji domain, which introduced cutting-edge technology from the Nabeshima domain’s Arita ware. The No. 1 kiln (opened in 1655), which primarily fired porcelain, was adjacent to the No. 2 kiln (pottery kiln), both of which operated as domain kilns mainly in the 17th century. Although both kilns did not produce the kind of products to promote industry that the feudal domain had hoped for, their efforts in the history of ceramics are highly regarded as the origins of Kutani ware, which continues to this day.
Many white porcelain items were excavated from Kiln No. 1. A wide variety of products can be seen, from large plates with diameters of 30 to 40 cm to products with watermarks. It is thought that these works were intended to be used as the base for color overglazing, however very few colored pieces have been excavated, including from around the colored work kiln in the workshop, and no evidence of mass production has been confirmed. There are also many types of blue and white pottery, and some firing test item fragments with the inscription “Meireki 2 / Kutani / August” attract attention as items that help clarify the operation period of No. 1 kiln.

In the No. 2 kiln, instead of porcelain, replicas of Korai tea bowls, which were at the forefront of the trends in the world of the tea ceremony, were fired. This may have reflected the intentions of Maeda Toshiharu, the first lord of the Daishoji domain, who as a tea master was also very interested in Korai tea bowls.

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