Megan Ratchford on tue 22 jan 02
(snip)
I purchased a few of these at a craft department store in Tokyo.I don't
remember the name.
(snip)
Could it be Tokyu Hands?
Megan
----- Original Message -----
From: "shambhalapottery"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2002 10:27 AM
Subject: Re: Japanese Gyubera. Seeking info
> Chris, the tool you asked about comes in different widths and lengths and
> is made from the core of pine trees. This is what I was told when I saw
them
> used in Japan.
> They are held toward the top and used to form a nice inner line on bowl
> forms. You can use the edge of the longer ones to flatten out rims.
> I purchased a few of these at a craft department store in Tokyo.I don't
> remember the name. Perhaps someone in the group knows the name off hand.
The
> store may possibly have a web presence where you might be able to view
them.
> They were pretty pricy in the early 80's when the yen was a lot weaker
than
> it is now.
> These tools do have to be kept in water or they will crack. I learned that
> the hard way. I think that may be because the wood may not have been
> properly aged before forming the tools.
> They are not just "J" shaped, but the inner part of the tool is a bit
> concave.
>
> Regards,
> June
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Chris Henley on tue 22 jan 02
Greetings All!
I've recently heard about a Japanese tool known as a gyubera or hera.
I've been told it is sometimes referred to as a "cows tongue." I understand
that it may be a kind of kote, or forming rib, used in opening and/or
forming a bowl. I"ve seen a picture of one on a Japanese pottery equipment
web site. It looks like the letter "j" (without the dot), and is flat in
profile.
What I'm looking for is a detailed description on how it is used, or any
other info that might be available. Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Chris Henley
www.hominid.net (email)
www.hominid.net/chris.htm (web site)
shambhalapottery on tue 22 jan 02
Chris, the tool you asked about comes in different widths and lengths and
is made from the core of pine trees. This is what I was told when I saw them
used in Japan.
They are held toward the top and used to form a nice inner line on bowl
forms. You can use the edge of the longer ones to flatten out rims.
I purchased a few of these at a craft department store in Tokyo.I don't
remember the name. Perhaps someone in the group knows the name off hand. The
store may possibly have a web presence where you might be able to view them.
They were pretty pricy in the early 80's when the yen was a lot weaker than
it is now.
These tools do have to be kept in water or they will crack. I learned that
the hard way. I think that may be because the wood may not have been
properly aged before forming the tools.
They are not just "J" shaped, but the inner part of the tool is a bit
concave.
Regards,
June
Snail Scott on tue 22 jan 02
At 12:07 AM 1/22/02 -0500, you wrote:
>It looks like the letter "j" (without the dot), and is flat in
>profile.
Chris-
I learned to throw from a guy who'd trained in Japan. One of our
tools sounds like what you're describing. The Japanese name was
'oshibera'; we all called it the 'ski tool'. It was shaped a
bit like a (very) short ski, maybe 8-10" long and a couple of
inches across on average (they come in different sizes) and had
a curved tip like a ski. If your 'gyubera' is similar, maybe
this will be of help.
The originals were made of a particular wood, I recall, but the
instructor figured out how to make them out of plexiglass, filing
the edges and then heating to get the curve. He showed some of
these to his old sensei when he visited, and the sensei said they
were a pretty good substitute.
They are used for making bowls. (It's been years since I did
any of this, but I'll try to describe the method.) First, the
clay is opened with the thumbs, then the tool is used. You hold
the flat end against your right-hand palm with your fingers
wrapped around it and the curved end pointed down toward the
clay. (Like holding a knife to stab downward, horror-movie style.)
After the form is opened, put the tool in with one edge against
the clay and pull it toward you, with the fingers of your left
hand supporting the clay from the outside. When the bowl is the
right size, ease the tool out, up the wall of the bowl. The
interior is then refined with a rib called a 'nobibera'.
This style of throwing is for porcelain, off the hump, on a
japanese-type (opposite direction of rotation) wheel. The
outer contour of the form is created in the trimming process;
only the inner contour is of concern during throwing. It may
be that on a 'standard' wheel, the tool would work better in the
left hand. I don't know if it would work very well on stoneware.
I hope this is of some use to you; maybe Mel or Lee can tell
you more.
-Snail
Lee Love on wed 23 jan 02
Chris,
You can see a photo of some at this page (bottom of the page, second to
last photo):
http://www.ceramicart.co.jp/tool/tool.html
Here is just the photo, if you have trouble finding it on the page (the photo by
itself is larger):
http://www.ceramicart.co.jp/tool/gyubera.jpg
Richard Breshnehan used one at a workshop of his I attended (he studied
in Kyuushu.) They are used as others have mentioned here. I bought one on my
first visit to Mashiko in '93, tried it, but never used it much.
--
Lee Love In Mashiko Ikiru@kami.com
"The best pots for me are the pots that I like." --Shoji Hamada (1894-1978)
Bill on wed 23 jan 02
On Tue, 22 Jan 2002 20:42:57 -0700, Megan Ratchford wrote:
I would put 10,000 yen on it! I have my brother in law pick me up pottery tools from
there each time he visits. I sure do miss that place!
>(snip)
>I purchased a few of these at a craft department store in Tokyo.I don't
>remember the name.
>(snip)
>Could it be Tokyu Hands?
> Megan
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "shambhalapottery"
>To:
>Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2002 10:27 AM
>Subject: Re: Japanese Gyubera. Seeking info
>
>
>> Chris, the tool you asked about comes in different widths and lengths and
>> is made from the core of pine trees. This is what I was told when I saw
>them
>> used in Japan.
>> They are held toward the top and used to form a nice inner line on bowl
>> forms. You can use the edge of the longer ones to flatten out rims.
>> I purchased a few of these at a craft department store in Tokyo.I don't
>> remember the name. Perhaps someone in the group knows the name off hand.
>The
>> store may possibly have a web presence where you might be able to view
>them.
>> They were pretty pricy in the early 80's when the yen was a lot weaker
>than
>> it is now.
>> These tools do have to be kept in water or they will crack. I learned that
>> the hard way. I think that may be because the wood may not have been
>> properly aged before forming the tools.
>> They are not just "J" shaped, but the inner part of the tool is a bit
>> concave.
>>
>> Regards,
>> June
>>
>>
>____________________________________________________________________________
>__
>> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>>
>> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>>
>> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Bill on wed 23 jan 02
On Tue, 22 Jan 2002 11:44:05 -0800, Snail Scott wrote:
Most likely it was called ushibera. Ushi and gyu both mean cow. Its just how you you
use the term. I know a person named Ushijima (cow island). Beef is gyuniku (cow
meat).
Chris,
I can send you pictures on how to make one. They are in Japanese however. Email me
your email address and I will scan the magazine page for you.
Cheers......Bill
>At 12:07 AM 1/22/02 -0500, you wrote:
>>It looks like the letter "j" (without the dot), and is flat in
>>profile.
>
>
>Chris-
>
>I learned to throw from a guy who'd trained in Japan. One of our
>tools sounds like what you're describing. The Japanese name was
>'oshibera'; we all called it the 'ski tool'. It was shaped a
>bit like a (very) short ski, maybe 8-10" long and a couple of
>inches across on average (they come in different sizes) and had
>a curved tip like a ski. If your 'gyubera' is similar, maybe
>this will be of help.
>
>The originals were made of a particular wood, I recall, but the
>instructor figured out how to make them out of plexiglass, filing
>the edges and then heating to get the curve. He showed some of
>these to his old sensei when he visited, and the sensei said they
>were a pretty good substitute.
>
>They are used for making bowls. (It's been years since I did
>any of this, but I'll try to describe the method.) First, the
>clay is opened with the thumbs, then the tool is used. You hold
>the flat end against your right-hand palm with your fingers
>wrapped around it and the curved end pointed down toward the
>clay. (Like holding a knife to stab downward, horror-movie style.)
>After the form is opened, put the tool in with one edge against
>the clay and pull it toward you, with the fingers of your left
>hand supporting the clay from the outside. When the bowl is the
>right size, ease the tool out, up the wall of the bowl. The
>interior is then refined with a rib called a 'nobibera'.
>
>This style of throwing is for porcelain, off the hump, on a
>japanese-type (opposite direction of rotation) wheel. The
>outer contour of the form is created in the trimming process;
>only the inner contour is of concern during throwing. It may
>be that on a 'standard' wheel, the tool would work better in the
>left hand. I don't know if it would work very well on stoneware.
>
>I hope this is of some use to you; maybe Mel or Lee can tell
>you more.
>
> -Snail
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
| |
|
