Shigaraki Ware Sun and Moon Mug

A mug from Meizan Kiln in Shigaraki (信楽焼), where the kiln has worked since around 1600. The Sun and Moon pattern — 日と月 — is pressed into the clay, taken from the kiln's own mark.

The gradient down the outside comes from two glazes, layered so they blend and run in the firing. The two have different textures, so the surface changes under the hand as you turn it. The mouth is wide and the handle sits in a gentle curve. In three colours: moon white, mustard and blue-green.

Shigaraki clay comes from the old Lake Biwa bed, rich in feldspar and quartz. It is the source of the kiln effects — yōhen (窯変) — the ware is known for: fire colour, ash, stone burst. Meizan Kiln keeps to that tradition while looking for new expressions.

*A fine crackle may appear across the glaze over time. This is kannyū (貫入), part of how the glaze settles, not a crack.