Nerikomi
Nerikomi (Japanese: 練り込み) is a ceramic decorative technique in which differently colored clays are combined to create patterns within the clay body itself. The patterns become visible on the surface of the finished vessel after the clay is shaped and cut.
In this technique, potters prepare several clays tinted with different pigments or natural mineral colorants. These colored clays are layered, stacked, folded, or rolled together to form patterned blocks of clay. When slices are cut from the block and shaped into vessels, the internal patterns appear as decorative designs on the surface.
Unlike painted or applied decoration, the patterns created through nerikomi are an integral part of the clay body. Because the design extends through the material, the patterns remain visible even after trimming, carving, or shaping.
Nerikomi techniques can produce a wide range of visual effects, including geometric patterns, marbled surfaces, or repeating motifs. The method has been used by both traditional and contemporary ceramic artists in Japan and internationally.
The technique is closely related to the process known as neritage, which also involves patterned clay bodies created from multiple colored clays.
