Tens of Thousands of Clay Shavings Cloak Hattori Makiko’s Coiled Porcelain Sculptures

Swirling, rounded sculpture with tiny gathered bundles (florets) of shaved clay covering the entire surface

(2014), porcelaneous stoneware, 12 7/8 x 20 x 22 1/4 inches. Photo by Richard Goodbody. All images courtesy of Joan B Mirviss LTD, shared with permission

Creating one of Hattori Makiko’s twisted porcelain sculptures is an exercise in patience. The Japanese artist makes just a few works a year, each requiring tens of thousands of rolled clay shavings precisely placed on and within the curved forms. Dense with crinkled florets, the unglazed pieces are made from Seto porcelain, a material from Aichi Prefecture in Japan, and can take up to six months to dry.

Many of Hattori’s works taper to slender bases with wider concave openings in the center. While more recent sculptures feature subtle folds and overlaps at the top, her earlier pieces dramatically twist and twine into elegant knots evocative of bunched fabric.

Find more of Hattori’s works at Joan B Mirviss LTD, where she’s represented.

Rounded conical white sculpture with concave center and tapered base, covered inside and out with tiny gathered bundles of shaved clay

(2019), unglazed Porcelaneous stoneware, 15 x 9 7/8 inches. Photo by Richard Goodbody

Swirling, round white sculpture with tapering base and covered both inside and outside with tiny gathered bundles of shaved clay

“Hōyō; Embrace” (2023), unglazed porcelaneous stoneware 13 3/8 x 15 inches. Photo by Hayashi Tatsuo

Swirling, round white sculpture with concave center and covered both inside and outside with tiny gathered bundles of shaved clay

“Kizashi; Sign” (2023), unglazed porcelaneous stoneware 11 3/8 x 15 3/4 inches. Photo by Hayashi Tatsuo

Detail of “Kizashi; Sign” (2023), unglazed porcelaneous stoneware 11 3/8 x 15 3/4 inches. Photo by Hayashi Tatsuo

Swirling, rounded vessel with upraised ridges and tiny gathered bundles of shaved clay covering the entire surface

“Samayou (Wandering)” (2012), porcelaneous stoneware, 11 3/4 x 15 3/4 x 15 3/4 inches. Photo by Richard Goodbody

“Fuka; Hatching” (2022), unglazed porcelaneous stoneware, 10 1/2 x 16 1/8 inches. Photo by Hayashi Tatsuo

Detail of “Fuka; Hatching” (2022), unglazed porcelaneous stoneware, 10 1/2 x 16 1/8 inches. Photo by Hayashi Tatsuo

Low, rounded white sculpture with concave center and covered both inside and outside with tiny gathered bundles of shaved clay

“Kodō; Heartbeat” (2022), unglazed porcelaneous stoneware 10 1/4 x 16 1/2 inches. Photo by Hayashi Tatsuo

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