Motoyashiki Pottery Kiln Site
Motoyashiki Pottery Kiln Site (元屋敷陶器窯跡, Motoyashiki tōki kama ato) is an archaeological site containing late Sengoku to early Edo period kilns located in what is now part of the city of Toki, Gifu in the Chubu region of Japan. The site was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1967.[1] Many of the pottery shards excavated from this site have been collectively designated as National Treasures or National Important Cultural Property of Japan.[2][3]
元屋敷陶器窯跡 | |
 .svg.png){kind=icon} Motoyashiki Pottery Kiln Site  Motoyashiki Pottery Kiln Site (Japan) | |
| Location | Toki, Gifu, Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Chubu region |
| Coordinates | 35°21′56″N 137°10′34″E |
| History | |
| Periods | Sengoku - Edo |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | National Historic Site |
| Public access | Yes |
Overview
The Motoyashiki Pottery Kiln site is on a steep south slope facing the valley north of Tokishi Station. The large kiln is an anagama|noborigama]] with a total length of 24 meters. It was constructed in the Keichō era (1596 - 1615) by Katō Junpei, a potter from Mino Province who had apprenticed at the kilns at Karatsu in Kyushu.
The kiln has 14 chambers. each with an average width of 2.2 meters and depth from 0.55 to 1.3 meters, increasing with increasing elevation. The floor is inclined at an angle of between 10 and 20 degrees. From the shards recovered at this site, this kiln was determined to be the origin of Oribe ware pottery.
During excavations conducted in 1933, the remains of two more large kilns were discovered.
References
- "元屋敷陶器窯跡" [Motoyashiki tōki kama ato] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs.
- "岐阜県元屋敷陶器窯跡出土品" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs.
- "岐阜県元屋敷陶器窯跡出土品" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs.
External links
- Gifu Prefecture home page (in Japanese)
- Toki city home page (in Japanese)