Shun Otsuki Purple clay wood-fired kiln teapot 070

"A back-of-the-house teapot emitting the sparkle of flames "

This work was created by Shun Otsuki, a young teapot craftsman from Yokkaichi City.
Otsuki is a notable artist known for creating teapots with a "beautiful, fine texture."

Mr. Otsuki's works are now fired in a full-scale wood-fired kiln.


Mr. Otsuki talks about his thoughts on making teapots:
"First of all, please be aware that firing a teapot in a wood-fired kiln is extremely difficult.

Because the fire continues to flow inside the kiln, the heat from the teapot exposed to the fire inside the kiln is intense, even when checking with a thermometer.
A teapot needs to be practical. For that reason, the material is made as thin as possible. The opening is attached in a balanced manner. When doing so, the situation in which it will be used and the flow of hot water must be considered, and the angle of the opening must be calculated and attached accordingly. The lid is also fitted tightly, and the teapot is fired with the lid on.
If you bake a teapot in this state in a wood-fired kiln, there is a risk that the lid and body will become impossible to remove. There is also the risk of the handle becoming deformed, breaking, or being knocked over by the force of the fire, making it very difficult to bake a teapot in a wood-fired kiln.

Returning to the topic of purple clay, purple clay has low fire resistance and is weak to high temperatures. Because it is weak to heat, it is more likely to deform than other clays when fired in a wood-fired kiln. For example, the center of the foot will sag, and the teapot will become worn out. Also, the inside of a wood-fired kiln undergoes very complex movements, and purple clay teapots cannot withstand them and will break. The first time I fired purple clay in a wood-fired kiln, all of them broke.
During this firing, one teapot broke into tiny pieces. I was sure I had put it here, but when I found no trace of it, I had to search everywhere, wondering if I had forgotten to put it there.
Therefore, when firing the purple clay teapot in a wood-fired kiln, we adjusted the amount of firewood and the firing time.
Ours is a small climbing kiln, and although it would normally take about two days, we fired it over three days.
There are still many areas for improvement, but overall we have been able to finish firing the purple clay teapot with stability. The reaction with the ash creates a soft, beautiful, glossy surface, which gives it a natural beauty similar to that of jewelry. I feel that the atmosphere created by firing without using glaze is something that is unique to purple clay fired in a wood-fired kiln.

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The characteristics of Mr. Otsuki's work are:
・Carefully selected fine clay ・Lid with a rounded, long knob for easy grip ・Finely crafted tea strainer ・Exquisitely fitting handle ・Excellent drainage

When brewed in this high-temperature fired purple clay teapot,
Sencha, Japanese black tea, and Chinese tea all have a soft yet rich flavor.
After actually using it, I felt that it was a great product that would satisfy me.
* Purple clay: This product is reduced and then oxidized and fired.

[Handling history]
In 2018, when the owner of the garden visited the studio of Hiromi Yamamoto, a Banko ware artist in Yokkaichi City, he was introduced to Mr. Otsuki, the only craftsman whom Hiromi had taught how to make teapots. He was a gentle man, but he also had a strong sense of passion for teapots. Since then, he has supported Mr. Otsuki's teapot making and has been selling his products.

Otsuki's creations begin with collecting and refining the clay himself to create a finely textured clay. The teapots he creates from this clay have a deep luster and a subdued texture, and are attractive in every respect, from texture to balance to ease of use. This is a teapot that everyone will want to have on hand, and the more you use it, the more it develops its own character.

[Ceramic history]
Shun Otsuki (Instagram: tuki_shun)
1992 Born in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture
2016 Joined Tozan Kiln, a teapot specialist, and began self-studying clay and teapot making
2019 Moved production base to Sakuramachi, Yokkaichi City
Since becoming independent in December 2021, he has been making pottery, mainly teapots.

[Details] Capacity: 155cc / Weight: 91.87g / Body diameter: 7.4cm / Height: 7cm / Length: 11.4cm / Mouth: 4.4cm
*The capacity is up to the lid holder, but it may vary by 5 to 10 cc depending on the water tension.