Nerikomi and Agateware
Nerikomi is a Japanese compound word formed by two words “neri” meaning to mix, and “komi” means to press into. Therefore, Nerikomi means molding with clay. The technique was used traditionally to create patterns with colored clay. Agateware is a ceramic technique used for combining clay with contrasting colors to form different patterns. Both ceramic techniques are used to combine colored clays to achieve high contrast patterns and marbling. Both techniques are similar because they are used in artistry to combine different colored clays and make an exciting pattern through their mode of operation is different.
Nerikomi and agateware are similar because both of them involve combining various colored clay. Both techniques are achieved by combining the clays of different colors. In nerikomi, the two pieces of clay are molded together basically to distribute the ceramic stain in the piece of clay (Mossman, 2018). The stain formed will be visible on both sides of the clay. Nerikomi technique is hand build. Agateware involves using a wheel to combine the different colored clay present. Two medium sized balls of different colored clay are rolled. A wire is used to cut them in quarters and then swapped so that each ball has two different colors. The balls are then passed to the wheel to form one big ball with different colored patterns. Nerikomi technique being hand build it’s a bit simple and direct but it is slow as molding is done bit by bit. Agateware is achieved by passing clay through a rotating wheel making it faster compared to nerikomi.
The techniques differ in how they are achieved. Nerikomi is achieved by hand molding or pressing two different colored clays together. The color on top of the surface of the mold formed will be the same color as of the interior side of the ceramic (Oyobe, 2018). Agateware is achieved by passing the clay on a wheel. Agateware is achieved in two methods one is throwing agate and laid agate. In making laid agate, the pattern is thought out and designed first before shaping the clay. Two medium sized balls of different colors (white and grey) are rolled differently. A wire is used to cut the balls in quarter their original size then they are swapped so that each ball will have both colors white and grey. The balls are then passed to the wheel to form one big ball, which has different patterns. The second method of making agateware is by throwing agate to the wheel. It is achieved by centering the clay as quickly as possible and avoiding pulling the clay too many times then rotating the wheel as slowly as possible.
In summary, the compound word nerikomi originated from Japan which means molding of clay. It is achieved by pressing or molding two different colored pieces of clay on each other. It’s molded using hands. Agateware is the technique of joining two clays with different colors. It is achieved in two methods one is throwing agate and laid agate. In making laid agate, the pattern is designed and prepared first before shaping the clay. The second method of making agateware is by throwing agate to the wheel. It is achieved by centering the clay as quickly as possible and avoiding pulling the clay too many times then rotating the wheel as slowly as possible. The primary importance of these ceramic techniques is used to make high contrast patterns and marbling.