A reddish mottled appearance on the surface of stoneware, shimeyaki, and tsukeware. The color is mainly caused by the re-oxidation of iron contained in the clay. The scarlet color of Shino ware is highly prized by connoisseurs, but it is most often seen on raw glaze, and was originally the result of a technical failure.
Ina Chozo, the second generation of Tokoname potters, created white mud ware during the Tempo period (1830-44), and further innovated to create algae ware, which was called scarlet ware. This type of pottery was produced by combining the salt and ash of seaweed to produce irregular red patches on a portion of the base material. The scarlet color is an accidental change of kiln and is very elegant. Algal ware and fire stick ware are artificially discolored, and it is difficult to avoid the feeling that they are deliberate.
