Hagi ware was first produced by a naturalized Korean potter during the Momoyama period (1575-1614), old accounts say. Flourishing under the patronage of the local domain during the Edo period (1615-1867), its production centered around bowls and other vessels for the tea ceremony.  Hagi-ware techniques have been handed down through the generations by several potter families such as the Saka and Miwa. From the beginning, Hagi potters made mainly Yi dynasty-style tea utensils, and using local clay they made wares of restrained expression with a slightly opaque glaze. In recent years some artists have been experimenting with new shapes taking advantage of the features of Hagi ware.