Kutani Ware part1

Kutani ware

Kutani ware is a style of Japanese porcelain which was first produced in the mid 1650s in the area of Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.

The porcelain style is known for beautiful colors and bold designs covering most of the surface of each piece.

The producer of work above,Yasokichi Tokuda(徳田八十吉）was recognized to the important intangible cultural heritage (living national treasure) in 1997.

His works are stored to the Smithsonian Sackler museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and British Museum.

Tokoname Yaki -常滑焼- Teapot by Setsudo Yoshikawa -吉川雪堂-

Tokoname Yaki -常滑焼- Teapot by Setsudo Yoshikawa -吉川雪堂-

The picture of "the six best known Waka poets" (六歌仙 Rokkasen)*,selected poets in the early Heian period is given to a gorgeous teapot by Setsudo Yoshikawa ,skillful craftsman of Tokoname ware.

The Tokoname ware is earthenware that centers on Aichi Prefecture Tokoname City, and is burnt in Chita Peninsula including the circumference.

In the Heian era end (12 century), the kiln of the foothill of Chita Peninsula was almost built in the whole area. And, the teacup, the plate, and the jar, etc. were made. In general, the pottery made in this age is called "Old Tokoname".

The craft goods such as tea-things came to be made in Edo period. The people who were called "a skillful craftsman" burnt the work made with a potter's wheel. The teapot etc. were produced by about the end in Edo period.

*The six best known Waka poets were
僧正遍昭 Sojo Henjo
在原業平 Ariwara no Narihira
喜撰法師 Kisen Houshi
小野小町 Ono no Komachi
大友黒主 Ohtomo Kuronushi
文屋康秀 Funya no Yasuhide

Hasami Yaki -波佐見焼-

Cosmos vase shaped small picture by Sachio Takenoshita

The World of Sachio Takenoshita

It is a vase of the Hasami ware of a delicate, beautiful design.

The Hasami ware is porcelain burnt in the Nagasaki Prefecture Higashisonogi-gun Hasami-cho.

Long time ago, celadon was produced there.

In Edo period, tableware for the general public has been burnt voluminously with a huge kiln .

It is said that the production of porcelain with the dye was a top of Japan at that time, and is guessed that the majority is a Hasami ware in the porcelain excavated from ruins of the Edo period after the 18th century.

Arita black pipe bowl

Arita black pipe bowl by Eijiro Tokunaga

The World of Eijiro Tokunaga

Arita black pipe bowl with profound feeling.
As a tea bowl, of course, may also contain a device to put the ice sashimi.
I think that it is a work that sounds in person's senses.

有田焼 - Arita porcelain - part2

The Arita ware is classified into porcelain.

It is more firmly and is stronger than earthenware though the Arita ware is very thin and light. Therefore, it is the best for the tableware used in daily life.

The hyaloid element included in the raw material melts better because porcelain is burnt at a temperature that is far higher than earthenware, and it becomes hard.

Therefore, porcelain comes to have excellent strength even if made very thinly.

Moreover, the surface becomes smooth compared with earthenware that molds the soil so that porcelain may mold the powder and the porcelain earth of the stone mixing it and burns.

The feature of porcelain is that foundation is white. Therefore, a vivid painting shines very much.

The following are commodities of the Arita ware that corresponds to the international shipping.

有田焼 - Arita porcelain -

The "有田焼" Arita ware is porcelain burnt in the Saga Prefecture Arita-cho.

It assumes the "泉山" pottery stone and the "天草" pottery stone, etc. to be a raw material.

Arita kept only producing porcelain in Japan over a long period of time until the porcelain production started at the latter term of Edo period in various places.

The following are commodities of the Arita ware that corresponds to the international shipping.

Japanese pottery and porcelain

Pottery solidifies the powders such as feldspar and quartz to clay mixing it, and is a generic name of the product that is molded, dried, and baked. It is divided into earthenware,  container and porcelain depending on the state of foundation and the baking temperature, etc. , and the baking temperature is becoming the latter high. Next time, I introduce the main pottery home in Japan to everybody.