The Hiiro by Shizuka Tatsuno was designed with a level of craftsmanship that elevates an ordinary drinking water jug into an understated work of art.
Characterized by its unglazed and natural aesthetic, as well as its unexpected changes in color and surface effects over time, Bizen ware are known to make water taste milder when stored for 24 hours — it’s even cited in the old Japanese saying, “Water does not spoil in Bizen ware water jugs”. This prompted Tatsuno to explore this type of Japanese pottery further in the form of a water carafe. “I added an organic feel to the product by adding mislay details like its scratched-like texture created by mixing gravel with the clay,” the designer explains. Coming in a two-colour design and sporting a trimmed shape rarely seen in Bizen ware, the Hiiro elegantly blends tradition with contemporary touches, an object of lasting aesthetic and functional appeal. Hiiro was designed for Daikura, a Bizen ware shop in Okayama, Japan.
Tatsuno is a Japanese native who graduated from Kingston University London. She is the creative director and product designer of her eponymous design studio, which focuses on the furniture, interior and fashion accessories designed around her personal principles of “refining quality, conveying the story and passing it on”. A recipient of Young Japanese Design Talent for Elle Décor Japan in 2016, her works have been awarded and featured in various publications, design fairs and exhibitions worldwide. Visit her website and Instagram for more.
Photography © Fumio Ando for Shizuka Tatsuno / with permission