Neriage, handmade in California

Neriage is a Japanese word that roughly means to "mix." It also refers to a ceramics technique where in various colored clays are laminated together to form patterns. We use the traditional method of slicing slabs of colored porcelain with notched sticks and thin wire. We then laminate these together into a large "loaf"; finally we slice finished slabs to hand build these delicate pieces. I learned this technique from Matsui Nuyama in 1975 and I'm proud to keep the tradition of this lighthearted folk art alive.