Japanese pottery and porcelain

Karasaki pottery 唐崎焼

This type of earthenware was fired in Karasaki in Shiga Village in Emi Province (present-day Karasaki, Otsu, Shiga) around the Kyoho era (1716 – 1735). Although there are no details on the producer, it is said to be earthenware based on the Eight Views of Omi. There are many pieces that have a white Haku-yu glaze with a slight blue tint with ferrous paintings of pine cones and old pine trees. Aka-raku works that imitate Raku Ryonyu and Sanyu have also been confirmed. (more…)

Bairin pottery 梅林焼

This type of earthenware is from Beppo in the Zeze Domain in Omi Province around the Kyowa and Bunka eras (1801 – 1818). A man who went by Odawara Ihei from this area used clay from the Nakanojo Japanese plum forest to produce copies of yellow, blue, and purple Cochin ware. He produced highly elegant works, with a focus on teacups, lid holders, jars, pots, incense containers, and other tea bowls, but the kiln was abolished after the 1st generation Ihei. In addition, a man who went by Bairin Kinsaburo restored this style later in the Bunsei era (1818 – (more…)

Okei pottery 鶯渓焼

This type of earthenware has many theories surrounding it, and marks that have been confirmed include Okei inside a square frame and Okei inside an oval frame. Theory 1 The theory of Edward S. Morse (a researcher and collector of ancient Japanese ceramics who has greatly contributed to the appraisal of ancient ceramics) presents that this type of earthenware is from around the Kansei era (1789 – 1790) and a type of Bairin ware from Omi Province. Theory 2 Although the producer is unknown, this type of earthenware was fired in Okei, Uguisudani, Edo around the mid- to late-Edo period. (more…)

Yanagihara pottery 柳原焼

This type of earthenware originated when Arima Yorinori, the 9th generation feudal lord of the Kurume Domain, started a kiln in Yanagihara garden in the outermost region of the Kurume Castle in 1829. Potters from various regions were gathered to fire tea bowls and copies of earthenware from the region and beyond. High-quality Kyushu porcelain clay was used, while the glazes were brought by ship from Tsushima Island near the Korean peninsula. As a result, expenses piled up, and the kiln is said to have only been in operation for the short period between 1832 – 1836. As a result, (more…)

Nosayama porcelain 能茶山焼

A potter who was descended from Odo ware, which existed from before in Tosa, started this kiln in Nosayama (present-day Kamobe, Kochi) in 1820. This kiln was operated by the Tosa Domain and produced earthenware that was affected by the trend of Imari ware porcelain at the time. Higuchi Tomizo, the potter from Hizen who also worked on Tobe ware, and the painter Kozo were particularly central in the success of this style. The fact that high-quality porcelain clay could be excavated from near Nosayama also played a part in its rapid success, and it greatly contributed to the thriving (more…)

Furuichi porcelain 古市焼

This type of earthenware is from Furuichi Village in Taki County in Taｍba Province. The origins of this kiln are unknown, as it is thought to be a branch kiln of Mita ware, Since there are existing works with a signature of 1815, works have been fired in this kiln since at least then. In addition, Kanda Sobei from Mita ware came to this land to create works favored by the feudal lord of the Aoyama Domain, and there is a probably theory that this kiln was abolished when the Sasayama kiln was started. It stands out for its blue (more…)

Nanzenji pottery 南禅寺焼

This type of earthenware was created by Reizan, a monk in Nanzenji Temple in Higashiyama, Kyoto, around the beginning of the Meiji era during his free time in the kiln he started in this temple. He left both the circular Reizan mark and Nanzenji mark on his vessels. Although the establishment of his style is unclear because there are few of his works that exist today due to his short production period, but there are a relatively high number of items with green Ryoku-yu glazes on the outside and transparent Tomei-yu glazes on the inside. In addition, since there were (more…)

Ikaho pottery 伊香保焼

As also known as Senka pottery. A potter named Senka produced this type of earthenware in Ikaho Hot Springs in Gunma Prefecture around 1881 – 1882.He mainly produced Raku ware teacups and vessels with the marks of “Senka” or “Ikaho ware” and sold them as souvenirs. Since the production period was short, works that exist today are rare, but they are said to have a style with a thin level of elegance.In addition, the real name, birthplace, and years of birth and death are unknown for Senka. (more…)

Kin’unken 錦雲軒

This is a kiln in Awataguchi, Kyoto that Osaki Kyubei operated from the Bakumatsu to the Meiji era.At first, it mainly produced painted ceramics, such as patterns of painted plants and flowers, that were unique to Awata ware, but once the Meiji era began, it started to engage in overseas trading with Kinkozan and Obiyama. In addition, when the Kyoto Prefectural Government established an office to encourage industry and promoted the research and improvement of various handicrafts, Osaki Kyubei incorporated cloisonne techniques into his company to produce ceramics and cloisonne ware to be sold overseas.For cloisonne ware, he started the (more…)

Mizunodaira pottery 水の平焼

Mizuno ware is pottery from the Higo Province (Kumamoto Prefecture) and has been active from the mid-Edo period to the present. It is said to have originated in 1765 when Okabe Jobei bought the rights from Yamagawa Tokuzo, who had originally been creating pottery in Yamanita in Hondo Village in Amakusa County in Higo Province, and started firing pottery after moving the kiln to Mizunodaira in the same village.At the beginning, he was firing pottery without any glazes, but he gradually began to use glazes to create Shodai ware-style vessels. By the time of the 2nd generation Tomijiro, Namako-yu glazes (more…)

Soen pottery 桑園焼

Soen ware refers to earthenware created by Ono Minjiro, who was a wealthy man from Nagao, Tamashima, Kurashiki in Bitchu Province and used the name of Soen, as a hobby during the Bunsei and Tenpo eras in the late-Edo period. It is also referred to as Nagao ware from its location.His tea sets of the Raku ware and blue and white pottery styles are also seen, but his copies of Chinese pottery are especially magnificent. (more…)

Kamakura pottery 鎌倉焼

This type of earthenware is from Kamakura during the Meiji era. Kato Tahei Keisho, the potter from Seto, started a kiln in Hase, Kamakura based on a recommendation by the novelist Hoshino Tenichi and began bringing porcelain clay from Seto, Kyoto the following year and started selling famous hand-formed handicrafts, such as pot-hooks with 3 monkeys, and tea sets, which he called Kamakura ware. In 1898, he had the honor of creating works in front of the crown prince (to become Emperor Taisho later).After the 1st generation Keisho passed away in 1909, he left behind his stepson Jirokichi who sold (more…)

Zenmyoji pottery 善明寺焼

This type of earthenware is from a kiln started by Genryo, the 6th generation chief priest of Zenmyoji in Shima Village in Hidaka Country, during the Kyoho era (1716 – 1735) as one of the commissioned kilns of the Kishu Domain. It contains celadon flower vases, jars, and vessels. There are a few Bizen ware-style teacups and water jars that still remain. (more…)

Ubagamochi pottery 姥ヶ餅焼

This type of earthenware originated in Kusatsu in Kurita Country in Omi Province (Kusatsu, Shiga) around the Genbun and Horeki eras of the mid-Edo period (1736 – 1764) when the owner of the Ubagamochi tea shop began firing Raku ware style mochi platters. He gained popularity for adding designs of paintings and lyrics to these platters and began to fire teacups, incense containers, and other tea bowls in addition to mochi platters. For its styles, Raku ware and Cochin ware have been confirmed. There is a theory that the production of the Raku ware pieces was entrusted to Sanyu from (more…)

Yoro pottery 養老焼

The noted potter Ohashi Shuji representing the Mino region in the late-Edo period originated this type of earthenware in 1855 at the age of 60 in Yoro in Mino Province. It has been confirmed that works produced by Shuji have spatula-carved block-style marks of “Yoro,” but Yoro ware from this time period is extremely rare, since Shuji passed away 2 years after starting this kiln. Additionally, the major potter Kotani Kaichi from Makida Village in Yoro Country (present-day Kamiishizucho Makida) cooperated with Maeda Kamajiro from Nagoya in 1902 to create tea sets and sell them as Yoro ware in October (more…)

Konko pottery 金光焼

Sakamoto Noboru traveled to the Korean peninsula to research ceramics and returned to Japan in 1925. The potter Sakamoto Noboru started a kiln in Konko, Okayama in 1925 to create this type of earthenware. He invited technicians to start a German-style coal kiln and produced teacups, pots, and flower vases, which he names Konko ware based on the land. (more…)

Suisaka pottery 吸坂焼

Although there are various theories to its origin, the most common explanation is that Maeda Toshitsune, the 3rd generation feudal lord of the Kaga Domain, invited potters from Seto during the Kan’ei era (1624-1644) to fire tea sets in Suisaka village, Kaga. This kiln produced a variety of pottery, including Seto-style, dark brown glazes, Bizen-style works, lapis lazuli glaze, and Korean style pottery. There is a probable theory that the predecessor of Kutani ware that is currently known as Old-Kutani ware was created by improving Suisaka ware. Suisaka pottery, along with Old-Kutani ware, was painted in studio of Daishoji castle, (more…)

Sekisui pottery 赤水焼

This is a type of Mumyoi ware from Sado, Niigata that originated in 1857 when Ito Tomitaro (1st generation Ito Sekisui), who used the name of Sekisui, produced earthenware. It became popular for the Setsubun drinking glass (Oni demon on the bottom and Otafuku at the top) and also produced Shidei pots and tea sets.Since the Meiji era, the 2nd generation Kenzo and 3rd generation Kotaro inherited the kiln and made improvements by adding techniques such as inlaying. At the moment, the 5th generation Ito Sekisui is an important intangible cultural property holder. www.nihonkogeikai.or.jp伊藤赤水の作品一覧-公益社団法人日本工芸会 (more…)

Tamagawa pottery 玉川焼

The Enomoto family home near Koshoji Temple in Sakahama houses earthenware called “Tamagawa ware” fired in this area in the late-Edo period. The Enomoto family had engaged in agriculture in Sakahama Village for generation after generation, but from the time of the 1st generation Rihei (from the Genroku era), it began firing earthen teapots, earthenware mortars, and other miscellaneous vessels using the clay from nearby during the leisure season. It had the shop name of Dobinya for these articles. The 4th generation Rihei went to Seto and Kyoto to train in ceramics before returning to Sakahama Village in 1834 after (more…)