Shingama Kiln

In 1830 the Lord of Nabeshima decided to found a new kiln to specialise in high quality larger pieces. Shingama (a shortening of “Shin-noborigama”) was born and they went on to exhibit at the famous Paris exhibition of 1878. The same family is still in charge today.

Porcelain clay was discovered South of Arita on Kyushu island in the 17th century. To this day, you can tell Japanese porcelain clay because it gives a slight blue grey tinge to the fired porcelain. This is why the blue and white pattern is not as stark as it could be and the geometric shoji pattern is softened by the off-white porcelain ground.