Mugihiko Kitagawa - Vegetable Dyed Bowl, Tan

The “Vegetable-Dyed” Bowls!
These unique bowls are finished with a glaze made from vegetables grown on the artisan’s own farm. Each batch was carefully fermented for decades, creating a one-of-a-kind vegetable glaze.

The rough, textured clay comes from the local soil of Mount Aso in Kumamoto, Japan, adding a grounding connection to the earth. Hold it in your hands and feel both the warmth of the maker and the richness of the land.

Each piece is handmade by Mugihiko Kitagawa in Aso mountain in Kumamoto Japan. Each piece varies in glaze and size.

• Approximate measurement: 9 1/2" diameter x 2 7/8"H
  
• Capacity: 2 US cup
• Weight: 1 lb 13oz
• Care instruction: hand wash recommended, not oven safe

Story:

Mugihiko Kitagawa is the second generation of the ceramicist family. His family started the kiln in the 1980s in Aso mountain in Kumamoto Japan. Aso mountain is an active volcano and the local soil contains a lot of minerals and volcanic ashes. The area is also famous for hot springs and a rich environment for farming culture.

Mugihiko’s family invented the “natural ash glaze” using local organic plants, vegetables and fruits. His family raises those vegetables and fruits on their own farm. It takes about 1-10 years depending on the ingredients just to create the natural ash glazes. Due to the natural resources the color comes out differently each round.

Mugihiko traveled to many countries when he was in his 20s and spent time with the local families in each location. Mugihiko is focusing on hand-kneading using those natural ash glazes to express the simple beauty of nature in Aso mountain while adding some uniqueness from different countries where he traveled.