-Afterglow Project
A project dedicated to elevating the afterglow of materials that have fulfilled their purpose into something unique and irreplaceable. The first material in focus is the shell of the Akoya oyster, after its pearls have been harvested.
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This year too, we’ve harvested beautiful Akoya pearls. But what happens to the shells left behind? Some are repurposed, others exported.
Yet, the majority end up with no further use, becoming industrial waste and burdening landfills. In response, we set out to reclaim these shells and breathe new life into them, embarking on a journey of exploration.
“Glaze for Ceramics”
After countless trials, we finally arrived at a solution. We successfully cleaned, crushed, and transformed the shells into glaze for ceramics. This endeavor began with an encounter with Koichi Taniguchi, the third-generation head of Taniguchi Ceramics, renowned for their work in crafting the base materials for Kutani ware.
Kutani ware traces its origins back to the 17th-century Kaga Domain, now present-day Ishikawa Prefecture. While famous for its vibrant colors and bold designs, its distinct beauty is underpinned by the delicate quality of the clay used. The clay sourced from Ishikawa is known for its pure white base, which, when fired, reveals a translucent elegance. Since 1951, Taniguchi Ceramics has supported Ishikawa’s cultural heritage through the production of this exceptional clay, crucial to Kutani ware’s beauty.
ANNA DIAMOND presents a narrative of transforming overlooked materials from consumer society, giving them new perspectives and elevating their value. One such material is the very shell that nurtured the pearls. We dreamt of countless ways to bring fresh value to these shells, meeting experts from various fields, putting our ideas into action, and confronting challenges that made us realize the difficulty of our mission.
Despite the advanced age of the internet, when embarking on new ventures, we must still rely on the hands and minds of people, crafting solutions through trial and error.
Even after we settled on the idea of “glaze,” numerous challenges lay ahead—how to remove the salt from the shells, how to finely crush them. Thanks to Taniguchi-san’s deep knowledge and unwavering support, we overcame each obstacle, eventually succeeding in giving the shells new life.
“Jewelry Trays in Production”
Recently, we successfully completed firing tests with shell-based glaze, and we are now moving forward with the production of final products. We expect to launch these pieces by 2025. Please look forward to future updates.
ANNA DIAMOND Founder / Designer
Haruna Mori