This study was conducted with the primary objective of meticulously analyzing the unique traditional characteristics of heukja (lacquered ceramics), which have been produced in lacquer kilns in the Sindun-myeon area of Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province s...
This study was conducted with the primary objective of meticulously analyzing the unique traditional characteristics of heukja (lacquered ceramics), which have been produced in lacquer kilns in the Sindun-myeon area of Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province since the 1960s, using scientific and systematic methods. By actively utilizing decayed leaf soil (buyeopto), a representative local specialty raw material from the region, as the main ingredient, the study aimed to reproduce and restore the visual beauty and physical properties of heukja with modern techniques and sensibilities. Through this, the research sought to revive lost regional traditional ceramic production techniques while exploring the potential for sustainable use of natural materials.
The basic glaze composition was carefully designed and formulated using Indian feldspar, decayed leaf soil, rice straw ash, talc, silica, dolomite, limestone, and kaolin. Iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) was added as a colorant to ensure depth and stability in black coloration. The firing process was carried out in a high-temperature range of 1,230°C to 1,260°C, alternately applying oxidizing and reducing flame atmospheres appropriately to maximize the reproduction of traditional color development effects.
Decayed leaf soil, a natural multi-component raw material containing primarily SiO₂ (66.7%), Al₂O₃ (21.4%), and Fe₂O₃ (3.82%), played a crucial role in effectively lowering the glaze melting point to stabilize the firing temperature, significantly improving glaze flow for uniform coating, and markedly enhancing adhesion to the clay body. In particular, due to residual organic components in the decayed leaf soil, it exhibited a distinctive characteristic of producing a much warmer, deeper, and softer black tone compared to the cold black typically seen in conventional iron glazes. This was identified as a key factor scientifically explaining the charm of traditional heukja.
The reproduced specimens were systematically compared with actual artifact fragments excavated from the lacquer kilns in Sindun-myeon from the 1960s using various scientific techniques, including precise color analysis with a colorimeter (CIELAB), crystal structure analysis via X-ray diffraction (XRD), and elemental composition analysis using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Colorimeter measurements showed a color difference (ΔE) of only 0.81 between the artifact fragments (L* 30.51, a* 0.01, b* –1.40) and the experimental specimens (L* 29.8, a* 0.27, b* –1.11), confirming very high similarity that is almost indistinguishable to the naked eye. XRD analysis revealed that the positions of major diffraction peaks (2θ ≈ 26–28°, 64°, etc.) deviated by only 2–5%, with overall pattern similarity reaching 85–95% (Rwp values 5–15%). EDS elemental composition analysis also demonstrated very high agreement in the ratios of major components.
This study not only successfully restored and reproduced the production techniques of regional traditional heukja ceramics, which had been at risk of disappearing due to long-term discontinuation, through rigorous scientific analysis and experimentation, but also presented new possibilities and directions for environmentally friendly, sustainable ceramic material development by actively utilizing decayed leaf soil—an ecologically compatible and locally abundant natural resource—as the primary glaze ingredient. Furthermore, by systematically and meticulously analyzing differences in color development characteristics according to variations in the composition and content of decayed leaf soil, the study established a solid foundation for developing and applying modern creative glazes in the heukja series with diverse tones and textures beyond traditional black glazes. This is expected to make significant contributions to future ceramic design and industrial applications.