How Japanese Lusterware Achieves Its Unique Optical Properties

In: Ceramacists, Ceramic Art and Design
Jar and cover, Fairyland lustre,designed by Daisy Makeig-Jones
Jar and cover, Fairyland Lustre, designed by Daisy Makeig-Jones

Japanese lusterware, known for its pearlescent finish and hand-painted designs, is a type of ceramic that incorporates advanced techniques involving metallic nanoparticles. This type of ceramic is characterized by its unique optical properties, which are achieved by combining silver and copper nanoparticles into the glaze. These nanoparticles are responsible for the distinctive colours and shine of the lusterware, which can include hues like blue, tan, or white. The production of such ceramics involves complex processes refined over centuries.

Production Techniques

Creating lusterware involves a two-step firing process, where copper and silver are applied separately to achieve the desired metallic sheen. The size and distribution of these nanoparticles in the glaze layer are crucial for the final appearance, with different sizes producing varying colours and effects (Molina et al., 2014).

Bowl, Fairyland lustre, designed by Daisy Makeig-Jones, made by Wedgwood and Sons
Bowl, Fairyland lustre, designed by Daisy Makeig-Jones, made by Wedgwood and Sons

Medieval recipes for lusterware often included cinnabar and other compounds, which influenced the final colour and reflectivity of the glaze. The optical properties of the lustre are closely linked to the composition and size of the nanoparticles formed during the firing process (Molera et al., 2007).

Optical Properties

The optical properties of lusterware result from the interaction between light and the metallic nanoparticles embedded in the glaze. The presence of copper and silver nanocrystals creates a range of colours from reddish to yellowish, with a characteristic metallic shine. The distribution and size of these nanoparticles are critical in determining the final visual effect(Roqué et al., 2006).

The glaze’s nanostructure, including the presence of copper nanoprecipitates, contributes to the unique appearance of lusterware, giving it a three-dimensional, cloudy sky effect (Hou et al., 2018).

While Japanese lusterware is distinct in its aesthetic and production techniques, it shares similarities with other East Asian ceramics, such as the blue-and-white porcelain from the Hizen area. These ceramics also involve complex production processes and have been subjects of extensive study to understand their unique characteristics and historical significance (Hsieh & Fischer, 2019).

Sources

Hou, J., Pradell, T., Li, Y., & Miao, J. (2018). Jun ware glazes: chemistry, nanostructure and optical properties. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 38(12), 4290-4302.

Hsieh, E., & Fischer, C. (2019). Japanese or Chinese? Non-invasive analysis of East Asian blue-and-white porcelain. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 11, 5483-5497.

Molera, J., Bayes, C., Roura, P., Crespo, D., & Pradell, T. (2007). Key parameters in the production of medieval luster colors and shines. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 90(7), 2245-2254.

Molina, G., Tite, M. S., Molera, J., Climent-Font, A., & Pradell, T. (2014). Technology of production of polychrome lustre. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 34(10), 2563-2574

Roqué, J., Molera, J., Sciau, P., Pantos, E., & Vendrell-Saz, M. (2006). Copper and silver nanocrystals in lustre lead glazes: Development and optical properties. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 26(16), 3813-3824.

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