(published in the April 2018 print issue of Groove Magazine)
I am always looking forward to the pottery classes of the National Museum of Korea, particularly their Blue and White Porcelain and Buncheong Celadon classes. My amateur hands have painted and shaped some of the art works I am displaying at home but I know I need to get my own collection of these precious pieces.
So, one cloudy Monday morning, my friends and I were on our way to Yeoju and Icheon, declared by UNESCO as a UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art. It was a little over an hour of leisurely driving from Ichon (Seoul) before we arrived at our first destination, Sam Bo in Yeoju. Sam Bo is a Blue and White porcelain shop and it boasts of its collection of plates and bowls of different shapes and sizes. Personally, I wanted shallower square plates but I thought I wasn’t prepared for its cost. I opted for deeper square dishes instead that could go well as serving dishes or pasta plates. Square plates, especially those with corner designs, are harder to make so they make for more expensive pieces. I got a big serving bowl to go with my square dishes. Would I want to add more? Definitely.
On our way out, we were treated to a delightful surprise! A kindly ajussi ushered my friends and me to Sam Bo’s factory located just behind the shop. It was awesome to see the different stages of the making of these blue and white porcelain pieces. Bowls and dishes were placed in different sections depending on the designs and they go through a long conveyor where the printing and baking happens. See these bowls freshly out of the kiln:
Want to know a little secret?
Just right outside of Sam Bo’s shop is a dumpster of rejected and broken pieces. Go for dumpster diving and no one would care. You’ll be surprised to find some decent pieces! Nobody would mind if you do. Just do so at your own risk.
After a good lunch ending with a Korean scorched rice called 누룽지, our group of 3 proceeded to Icheon’s Ceramic Village called Sagi Makgol. This place is a haven of handcrafted pottery.
It’s easy to lose track of time going from one shop to another and admiring each piece. As you go along, you will be able to see which shops display common pottery items and which ones produce artisanal pieces. Needless to say, these are more expensive and precious and they make your trip worth it.
Some shops have working areas and visitors can easily see artisans at work. We happened to get into one and I was allowed to video an artist working. The three of us had a good laugh when one of the men unexpectedly belted out lines from the song “Unchained Melody” from the 1990 movie “Ghost”.
At the far end of Sagi Makgol, there was a traditional kiln that looks like for communal use.
It would have been our best luck had we seen artists at work using the traditional kiln. Well, this chance may be reserved for our next visit.
What’s to look forward to?
Icheon hosts an annual Ceramics Festival. This year, it will be held on April 27, 2018 – May 13, 2018 at Ye’s Park (Icheon Ceramics Art Village). Check the homepage for more details: www.ceramic.or.kr
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I had no idea about Icheon or Yeouja before reading this, but now that I have I am interested in going to visit. Some members of my family especially love pottery and these places seem perfect for trying to find gifts for them!
If only I’m in Korea, I’d love to join the ceramics festival! This reminds me of the pottery sessions in Ilocos. Do they have hands on activities as well?
I like the dumpster full of discarded pieces. I’d gather them all to make some DIY artsy piece myself. Pottery is so common in Korea and is surprisingly easy to find places to create your own unique creations such as bowls, pencil cases or cups. I have few myself but they are definitely more basic than the gorgeous vases of the Icheon Village. It’s definitely a skill!
I’d totally go dumpster diving for the rejects 🙂 They have a thing in Japan where if the pottery is broken, they would have mended it with gold so it actually makes the item unique!
Those side plates though <3
Did you have any luck with the dumpster diving? Some of the pieces look wholly intact so they might have just been thrown away due to minor imperfections. As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another’s treachure
The photo you have of the ceramic pieces cooling off having been removed from the kiln is beautiful. I enjoyed your video too. I like pottery, and i’ve only had the chance to sit at a potter’s wheel once. I’d love to learn this skill. I’d really like to attend the festival. If only I had a permanent home where I could put items like these.
I would love to have those in my home!! They’re so beautiful and very satisfying to look at. Will probably just use that for decoration and not for eating. Lol
Sobrang gaganda ng mga design nito momsh 😍 lalo na kapag mahilig ka mag collect ng pottery like these 😍 Perfect na perfect to , pwede mo din pang gift 😍 I will check this on your blog mommy Wemdy 😍
Napakaganda nman ng mga designs sobra😍..Mas maganda pato e display kaysa gamitin pang kain.Napakagandang mag collect neto !
i love blue and white porcelain, i want to see also the different stages of making this 🙂 i like the dumpster of rejected and broken pieces, who knows maybe i can find a good one or something i can use for some diy projects.
Wow ang gaganda ng design 🤗❤️ gustong gusto din ng nanay ko ung mga ganito . Madalas pa nga display lang niya sa bahay tlga .
Ganda ng quality and design perfect pang gift pero parang mas bet ko ito display na lang sa bahay. Nakakapang hinayang gamitin yung ganito kasi baka mabadag lang sayang😅.