In pottery, you never know what will happen until you take the piece out of the kiln. The shrinkage of the clay, drying times, and thickness of the glaze all vary with the seasons.
Clay shrinks at every stage of the firing process, and the final size of the product is about 10% smaller than when it was formed. Inside the kiln, the pieces undergo harsh trials.
Only about 80% of these survive to become products that appear on store shelves. The remaining 20% are sorted out due to various defects like warping, uneven color, or cracks.
One day, Watanabe-kun, who has cherished our ceramics since his student days, brought joyful news of his marriage and a request. 'Can you make our wedding rings at ONE KILN?'
Initially baffled by the idea of using ceramic, I thought of my friend, the metalworker Hamano-kun, and wondered if we could manage it together! After consulting with him, we sifted through the discarded fragments to see which textures might suit a ring.
'This crack looks cool—'
'The glaze on this part is beautiful!'
The fragments picked by Hamano-kun started to shine in his hands.
Even if they couldn't be used as vessels, the natural cracks were clear-cut, and by shifting our perspective, we realized they could be beautiful materials. We decided to let the couple choose their favorite shapes from these fragments.
Later, Hamano-kun completed the rings, and the four of us gathered in the studio.
The rings, matched with gold bands and incorporating the chosen fragments, turned out more beautifully than expected. 'Wow, they're beautiful!' The couple, smiling, admired each other's rings. The ONE KILN studio was enveloped in a happy atmosphere.
Though not rare or expensive stones, the selected fragments have unbeatable uniqueness and a story. This reevaluation of values gave birth to the 'Ash-Stone Series.' Each fragment is cherished, and the painstakingly crafted accessories reflect Hamano-kun's kind personality and earnest attitude.
Best wishes for a long and happy life, Watanabe-kun!
Follow Hamano-kun's work here: https://www.instagram.com/ryou_hamano/
