Collection: Slipware by Momoko Shiohata

Momoko Shiohata, a ceramic artist residing in Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture, is renowned for her vessels that embody the very soil and atmosphere of Mashiko. She specializes in the traditional British technique called "Slipware," where she decorates the surface of the pottery with patterns drawn using keshōdo (slip) - a mixture of clay and water. This results in decoration that is simple yet full of vital beauty.

Shiohata insists on sourcing clay directly from the Mashiko area and personally performs the suibachi (elutriation) process to meticulously remove impurities. Her glazes are also handmade using local natural resources such as rice and rice hull ash from Mashiko. From raw material collection to forming and firing, nearly all steps are completed solely by her. Because of this dedication, her works not only carry the warmth of being handmade but also condense the texture of Mashiko's local environment and the passage of time, resulting in functional vessels imbued with the memory of the land.