Analogue Life

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Kittachi Sugurome (Glaze) Mug L (240ml)

The Kittachi coffee mug has a slender, cylindrical design which retains the heat its contents well while maintaining the pleasant aroma of the coffee. The mugs come in three sizes and matching plates (saucers) are available separately. An original glaze (Sugurome) gives each vessel a textured matte finish with a deep blue/black hue. Despite the matte finish the vessels were made nonporous to prevent stains. Each mug may vary slightly in form, tone and glazing depending on the placement of the pieces during the firing process.

Analogue Life’s original Kittachi mug and plate are crafted in Saga, which is renowned as a pottery region. The process of preparing and shaping clay is conducted in Arita, and firing is done in Imari. In recent years, even as a well-known porcelain production center, it is necessary for the Arita producers to source porcelain materials from other prefectures. Fortunately the Kittachi series is made from iron-rich clay locally sourced from Saga Prefecture. Roughly formed using a mould, each mug and plate is finished by the hands of a potter in order to refine its shape. A workshop based in Imari, Saga fired the vessels at temperatures similar to early Imari-ware (early 16th century) despite the considerable time and effort needed in order to achieve the ideal surface finish of the ceramics.

An original glaze we call Sugurome was developed for this mug. The name Sugurome is derived from a Japanese lacquer art term, which refers to plain lacquer as undercoat or black lacquer for matte finish.