Pottery Brooch: Miyazawa's Cat

Somehow, I felt this cat evoked the spirit of Kenji Miyazawa. Perhaps it was employed at his "Office of Cats." Size: Approx. H 30 x W 30 mm Material: Pottery *The photo shows the actual item you will receive. *Materials may change for future reproductions. .............................................. Crafting Process: Starting with a sketch, the clay is molded and shaped through repeated stages of slight drying and refinement. Approximately one month is dedicated to creating enough pieces to fill the kiln evenly. Firing takes seven hours for the initial bisque, after which each piece is wiped with water and individually glazed before the twelve-hour final firing. Some pieces receive a gold glaze and are returned to the kiln for another seven hours. As slow cooling is essential, we wait about two days after each firing before removing the pieces from the kiln. Finally, each item is examined by hand, and a pin is attached to those that meet our standards. The current success rate is around 70%. Although this process is time-consuming and labor-intensive, the result is a decorative brooch that combines the tactile feel of clay, the durability of pottery, the luster of glaze, and the sparkle of gold accents. We believe this is an item that can be cherished for a long time, unchanged.