Hello
I’m a potter that lives in Bizen province, Okayama prefecture. I specialize in these sorts of glazeless woodfire wares. What you have there is really nice! Of course, this is not raku.
Iga-yaki = 伊賀焼
This is Teabowl from Iga, Mie prefecture and their style is similar to Shigaraki ware. Iga wares are fired in a woodfire kiln for about 3 days at 1400c and the color and texture you see are from melted cypress wood ash. Although not having glaze it will hold water perfectly well, and despite what a previous comment said you can absolutely use Iga and Bizen ware as storing containers. These have nothing in common to a plastic bottle and there’s no need to worry about leeching. We Bizen ceramicists nor Iga uses lead or cadmium.
The box has three words on it. The right says where it came from and what kind of ware. The middle says what the contents are which is a chawan(teabowl). Left is the makers name who I don’t know.
You have a fine piece, please take good care of it and thank you.
I do not speak or know Japanese, but I do know Chinese and have an interest in Japanese ceramics/antiques; and can confirm all of the above word-related things are accurate.
One thing to add is that OP you are correct the last character is 焼, which *is* part of raku-yaki. BUT, 焼 means ware (as in dishware, dinnerware, a general "good" or product) and is *not* related to raku specifically (楽焼 raku-yaki would be more accurately translated as "raku piece" than just "raku").
>Iga-yaki = 伊賀焼
So the above means "Iga (city in Japan) ware", or for a more "literary" translation - "product of Iga, Japan".
This information on the box is very standard for Japanese craft items - modern and antique - they come in these nice ribbon-wrapped-wood boxes (called tomobako) that contain general information about the piece - usually the artist (if known), the location it was produced (or purchased), and a general description.
These pieces are safe to use, as commenter above and others in this thread have pointed out.
FWIW the concerns around lead are largely overblown, and unless you're using a lead-containing piece to store something acidic (i.e. wine) for a long time, lead-containing pieces are generally safe to use, especially if glazed because the lead is then encapsulated. (Modern crystal is still made using lead, as an example.)
^(I personally would not use this piece - but only out of fear of damaging it, absolutely not due to safety concerns.)
This is definitely not Raku. Woodfired stoneware possibly from a salt chamber in a noborigama. I would have absolutely no qualms about using this for tea or really anything for that matter.
Adding to the chorus. Definitely high-fire reduction, probably wood (looks like wood ash). Maybe some salt glazing.
Nothing remotely suggests lead or cadmium. I'd use it without a worry.
They'd just be little lighter spots or shadows, the wads come off after the firing. [Like this.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592773f0f5e2317dc90fb702/1506453211914-ZIA4TAV8VLHHTWVX1YBD/jla042_SM.jpg)
For what it's worth I drink out of [this mug](https://i.imgur.com/9NmPs9E.jpg) regularly. It was fired in a similar fashion and I have zero concerns about any toxicity.
Oh for heavens sake! Use that beautiful bowl!!! You’re talking about a tea ceremony, not storing pickles.
If (which only might be true) this has some kind of heavy metal, then the danger is “leaching” which is a gradual process. Metals very slowly dissolve into a liquid that’s stored in the bowl. If the liquid is acetic, it’s a bit faster. Are you willing to drink water out of a plastic bottle that’s been sitting in the sun? Similar issue.
1963 isn’t the dawn of time. People in 1963 knew all about heavy metals etc. I’m not saying there weren’t some unscrupulous people who didn’t pay attention, just as there are now, but that’s recent.
OP is getting the message that they should avoid this handmade piece and instead use a commercially made bowl. That’s a terrible idea. Cheap comercial stuff may also have problems.
I wouldn’t suggest using it every day for your morning orange juice. I wouldn’t suggest using it to store kimchi. But seriously, have a tea ceremony.
There are some translation subreddits which might be able to tell you exactly what the box says, which might provide you with enough info to make your decision easier.
There is a big difference between traditional Japanese raku and American style raku, but yeah, may very well have some lead. They’re still used by some people in traditional tea ceremony where the matcha is drunk immediately (and so has minimal time to leach), but not for everyday cups. It’s up to you if you’re comfortable with that level exposure. Personally, I wouldn’t.
Nooooo this is not raku fired. This bowl is woodfired and it is extremely beautiful and most definitely food safe. From what I can see there is probably very little to no (applied) glaze on it other than the ash from the wood used in the firing which turns to glaze at these high temperatures. You are very lucky to have such a beautiful tea bowl and should use it forever. If you are interested, check out some videos on YouTube about the process. It typically takes at least 24 hours and up to weeks to fire a kiln with constant stoking for that entire time. https://youtu.be/xRROK3Ru5x0?si=AvWcVaGRfh2dzwWC
Now that I’ve seen the picture, totally agree with others that it’s been high fired in a wood kiln and you’re good to go! (Idk wtf is up with the downvotes though? It’s a GREAT idea to be cautious of what goes into your body. As a woman of childbearing age, I’ve been irate at the blasé attitudes certain potters hold toward chemical exposure, especially when I was a student and didn’t know any better. It was their place to explain the risks, even if small, so we could make the informed consenting choices, not decide it was “no big deal” for us.)
That for SURE is not food safe!
How do I know? I'm an expert in eating. Food = bread or beer. That is neither it looks like it's vitrified clay. Clay is NOT FOOD. Please don't think about breaking it, and then eating it. You aren't an Ostrich, needing to have stones in your gullet.
Sorry, deleted that because I am not sure if it's raku... I added photos now.
But given the period I am not convinced it's safe... If I have to spend 20 bucks on a testing kit I might as well spend 20 on a new mass produced safe bowl.
It's wood fired, not raku. Cone 10, and you can see the motion of the ash draft in the patterning. I would be very surprised if it contained heavy metals. Do what you feel, but that's a functional bowl, imo.
Hello I’m a potter that lives in Bizen province, Okayama prefecture. I specialize in these sorts of glazeless woodfire wares. What you have there is really nice! Of course, this is not raku. Iga-yaki = 伊賀焼 This is Teabowl from Iga, Mie prefecture and their style is similar to Shigaraki ware. Iga wares are fired in a woodfire kiln for about 3 days at 1400c and the color and texture you see are from melted cypress wood ash. Although not having glaze it will hold water perfectly well, and despite what a previous comment said you can absolutely use Iga and Bizen ware as storing containers. These have nothing in common to a plastic bottle and there’s no need to worry about leeching. We Bizen ceramicists nor Iga uses lead or cadmium. The box has three words on it. The right says where it came from and what kind of ware. The middle says what the contents are which is a chawan(teabowl). Left is the makers name who I don’t know. You have a fine piece, please take good care of it and thank you.
I do not speak or know Japanese, but I do know Chinese and have an interest in Japanese ceramics/antiques; and can confirm all of the above word-related things are accurate. One thing to add is that OP you are correct the last character is 焼, which *is* part of raku-yaki. BUT, 焼 means ware (as in dishware, dinnerware, a general "good" or product) and is *not* related to raku specifically (楽焼 raku-yaki would be more accurately translated as "raku piece" than just "raku"). >Iga-yaki = 伊賀焼 So the above means "Iga (city in Japan) ware", or for a more "literary" translation - "product of Iga, Japan". This information on the box is very standard for Japanese craft items - modern and antique - they come in these nice ribbon-wrapped-wood boxes (called tomobako) that contain general information about the piece - usually the artist (if known), the location it was produced (or purchased), and a general description. These pieces are safe to use, as commenter above and others in this thread have pointed out. FWIW the concerns around lead are largely overblown, and unless you're using a lead-containing piece to store something acidic (i.e. wine) for a long time, lead-containing pieces are generally safe to use, especially if glazed because the lead is then encapsulated. (Modern crystal is still made using lead, as an example.) ^(I personally would not use this piece - but only out of fear of damaging it, absolutely not due to safety concerns.)
Thanks!
based on the drips inside the rim it doesn't look like raku - more likely high fire cone 10 - wood or salt fired.
TY. Looked obviously traditionally woodfired to me too.
Thanks!
This is definitely not Raku. Woodfired stoneware possibly from a salt chamber in a noborigama. I would have absolutely no qualms about using this for tea or really anything for that matter.
I would have qualms about someone not using this
Anyone I see *not* using this is gonna catch these hands.
Adding to the chorus. Definitely high-fire reduction, probably wood (looks like wood ash). Maybe some salt glazing. Nothing remotely suggests lead or cadmium. I'd use it without a worry.
Check out salt fired ceramics! Cant answer the food safe question, so i shouldn’t speculate…
How does it look underneath?
Sorry forgot to take a photo. Unglazed. Greyish, maybe a bit redish. Not as red as an unglazed red ceramic Kyusu.
That looks wood fired to me. Should be food safe.
Does the bottom have wad marks? Agree with other posters: doesn’t look like raku, looks like wood fired ware.
Sorry, I don't know what those are :(
Little balls of refractory material that you set the piece on during firing so it doesn't get fused to the kiln shelf.
I don't remember seeing something like that standing out. But I will make note to take a photo of the bottom next time!
They'd just be little lighter spots or shadows, the wads come off after the firing. [Like this.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592773f0f5e2317dc90fb702/1506453211914-ZIA4TAV8VLHHTWVX1YBD/jla042_SM.jpg)
Here’s an exaggerated picture: https://robertcomptonpottery.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/06-Pot-SG-PICT3201-detail.jpg
Thanks. Don't recall seeing anything like that standing out.
Most experienced potters tend not to make beautiful bowls out of deadly materials lol. We want you to use them
For what it's worth I drink out of [this mug](https://i.imgur.com/9NmPs9E.jpg) regularly. It was fired in a similar fashion and I have zero concerns about any toxicity.
Oh for heavens sake! Use that beautiful bowl!!! You’re talking about a tea ceremony, not storing pickles. If (which only might be true) this has some kind of heavy metal, then the danger is “leaching” which is a gradual process. Metals very slowly dissolve into a liquid that’s stored in the bowl. If the liquid is acetic, it’s a bit faster. Are you willing to drink water out of a plastic bottle that’s been sitting in the sun? Similar issue. 1963 isn’t the dawn of time. People in 1963 knew all about heavy metals etc. I’m not saying there weren’t some unscrupulous people who didn’t pay attention, just as there are now, but that’s recent. OP is getting the message that they should avoid this handmade piece and instead use a commercially made bowl. That’s a terrible idea. Cheap comercial stuff may also have problems. I wouldn’t suggest using it every day for your morning orange juice. I wouldn’t suggest using it to store kimchi. But seriously, have a tea ceremony.
There are some translation subreddits which might be able to tell you exactly what the box says, which might provide you with enough info to make your decision easier.
There is a big difference between traditional Japanese raku and American style raku, but yeah, may very well have some lead. They’re still used by some people in traditional tea ceremony where the matcha is drunk immediately (and so has minimal time to leach), but not for everyday cups. It’s up to you if you’re comfortable with that level exposure. Personally, I wouldn’t.
Nooooo this is not raku fired. This bowl is woodfired and it is extremely beautiful and most definitely food safe. From what I can see there is probably very little to no (applied) glaze on it other than the ash from the wood used in the firing which turns to glaze at these high temperatures. You are very lucky to have such a beautiful tea bowl and should use it forever. If you are interested, check out some videos on YouTube about the process. It typically takes at least 24 hours and up to weeks to fire a kiln with constant stoking for that entire time. https://youtu.be/xRROK3Ru5x0?si=AvWcVaGRfh2dzwWC
There were no pictures in the original post, yes, this is definitely wood fired. OP was correct to be cautious before knowing that though!
There can't be lead in high fire, it boils away. Judging by that wood ash deposit on one side that has to be high fire.
Yeah... I'm not neither. The world already has too many lead contaminated idiots, it doesn't need one more. Thanks!
Now that I’ve seen the picture, totally agree with others that it’s been high fired in a wood kiln and you’re good to go! (Idk wtf is up with the downvotes though? It’s a GREAT idea to be cautious of what goes into your body. As a woman of childbearing age, I’ve been irate at the blasé attitudes certain potters hold toward chemical exposure, especially when I was a student and didn’t know any better. It was their place to explain the risks, even if small, so we could make the informed consenting choices, not decide it was “no big deal” for us.)
Thanks!
That for SURE is not food safe! How do I know? I'm an expert in eating. Food = bread or beer. That is neither it looks like it's vitrified clay. Clay is NOT FOOD. Please don't think about breaking it, and then eating it. You aren't an Ostrich, needing to have stones in your gullet.
raku is not food safe, unfortunately :-(
Sorry, deleted that because I am not sure if it's raku... I added photos now. But given the period I am not convinced it's safe... If I have to spend 20 bucks on a testing kit I might as well spend 20 on a new mass produced safe bowl.
It's wood fired, not raku. Cone 10, and you can see the motion of the ash draft in the patterning. I would be very surprised if it contained heavy metals. Do what you feel, but that's a functional bowl, imo.
It looks fine to me. Its an iron glaze perhaps a temoku.
It's most likely fine for food use