About Tobe Ware
Tobe ware is porcelain produced in Tobe Town, Ehime Prefecture. Production began around 1777 using whetstone waste as raw material, encouraged by the domain. Characterized by hand-painted染付 (sometsuke) patterns in cobalt blue on white porcelain, it is beloved as thick, durable everyday tableware. Its simple, warm patterns are highly popular as modern tableware.
Techniques & Materials
Craft terms are shown in the original Japanese — these are proper names with no standard English equivalents.
Techniques
手描き染付呉須絵付け厚手成形
Materials
砥部の磁器土呉須（コバルト顔料）
Where to see & buy
Workshop names are in Japanese; links go to their official sites.
- 砥部焼観光センター 炎の里 hands-on experience