Kutani ware *

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kutani_ware

See also:

Kutani ware

Marks

Museum Examples

Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA)

Daishoji Imari (Kutani)
大聖寺榮錦

Kutani ware made in the style of Arita Imari ware. Often with a Chinese style 4 or 6 character mark on the base in blue, and with designs that are sometimes a little too "neat" and colorful for regular Imari ware. If you find this style in America you can almost guarantee that the seller will at best advertise it as Japanese Imari ware, or at worst, as Chinese porcelain (because of the mark)

Yoshita Minori 吉田美統
1938-
Living National Treasure 人間国宝 2001

Born to a family with generations of gold leaf Kutani ware artists, he worked as a pottery artist apprentice under his grandfather after the early death of his father, and succeeded the three generation Kinzangama workshop in 1951.
He was first selected to the Ishikawa Prefecture Art Exhibition in 1964, and flourished in many shows thereafter, appearing at the Issuikai Exhibition in 1978, being displayed at the Japan Industrial Arts Exhibition in 1974, winning the Issuikai award in 1978, receiving the 1982 member award, honorable mention at the 1984 Japan Industrial Arts Exhibition, being awarded the Takamatsunomiya memorial award in 1992, and recieving the Important Intangible Cultural Heritage award in 2000.
Other awards in that time also include honorable mention at Chunichi International Ceramics Exhibition in 1984 and 1985, Award of Excellence at the 1992 15th Traditional Kutani Ware Industrial Arts Exhibition, Intangible Cultural Asset nomination by Ishikawa prefecture, etc.
Furthermore, in 2001 he was awarded the purple ribbon Japanese Medal of Honor, and designated a living national treasure for his Yurikinsai gold underpainting technique. The years around his designation as a living national treasure are marked by many brilliant successes such as the Northern Province Cultural Award, the Ishikawa Prefecture Cultural Merit Award, the 2002 Komatsu City Cultural Award, the 2003 Ishikawa Television Award, etc.
Although he started by producing gold leaf Kutani wares under the guidance of his grandfather, he gradually deepened his study of Yurikinsai to find his own artistic style, creating pieces by applying yellow, blue, violet, etc. glazing to gold leaf. In recent years, he has been enhancing his formality and artistry by completing works embellished with an elegant grey glazed platinum leaf, as well as pieces finished with a thin gold glaze and layered with gold and platinum leaf.
https://japanese-ceramics.com/yoshida-minori-%e5%90%89%e7%94%b0%e7%be%8e%e7%b5%b1/

Museum Examples

Tokuda Yasokichi 1st 初代徳田八十吉
1873-1956
Living National Treasure 人間国宝 1953

At Matsumoto Sakame’s workshop, he studied such conventional techniques as those for making antiquated Kutani replications, Yoshida-ya replications, as well as the aka-e techniques. Following this, he created his characteristic Shinko glaze.
He also taught such pupils as the second and third generation Yasokichis, along with Asakura Isokichi. As of today, he is renowned as a leader in dyed pottery figure glaze. In 1953, he became the first figure in Kutani ware to become designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property (a Living National Treasure).
His works became highly valued for being ceramics made with refined coloring techniques and precision, and are still traded for large sums on the market.
japanese-ceramics.com/tokuda-yasokichi-%e5%be%b3%e7%94%b0%e5%85%ab%e5%8d%81%e5%90%89/

Tokuda Yasokichi 2nd 二代徳田八十吉
1907-1997

He was adopted by Tokuda Yasokichi I in 1923, and studied color painting under his father-in-law, as well as under Tomimoto Kenkichi and Tosen Adachi in Kanazawa. He presented his works at various craft exhibitions such as the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Craft Exhibition from a young age. His works were selected in various craft exhibitions. After the war, he exhibited his works at the Japan Art exhibition from the 1st exhibition in 1946. His works were selected in 1952, and won the Hokuto Award in 1954.
He was active as Tokuda Yasokichi, and in 1956 he succeeded the first generation and became the second generation Yasokichi. In 1975, he was certified as an intangible cultural property designated by Ishikawa Prefecture. In 1978, he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, and in 1988 he handed over the Yasokichi title to his eldest son Masahiko, after which he called himself Momokichi.
While producing the Kutani ware inherited from his master, he created a work called “Yuzo” using a kneading technique with colors and gold dust.
japanese-ceramics.com/tokuda-yasokichi-ii-%e5%be%b3%e7%94%b0%e5%85%ab%e5%8d%81%e5%90%89-2%e4%bb%a3/

Tokuda Yasokichi III 三代徳田八十吉
1933-2009
Living National Treasure 人間国宝 1997

From Ishikawa Prefecture. Real name is Masahiko. Graduated from the Kanazawa College of Art. Learned from his father Yasokichi. Issui-kai Exhibition prize winner and judge. His works have been procured by the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Has received the NHK President’s Prize at the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, as well as the Craft Association President’s Prize, and is a regular member. Became the third Yasokichi in 1988. Focuses on colored glaze, brilliant glaze, and blue glaze.
japanese-ceramics.com/tokuda-yasokichi-3rd-%e5%be%b3%e7%94%b0%e5%85%ab%e5%8d%81%e5%90%89/
www.e-yakimono.net/html/tokuda-yasokichi-jt.html
www.e-yakimono.net/html/living-natl-treasures.htm

Marks

Museum Examples

Tokuda Yasokichi 4th 四代徳田八十吉
1961-

Her real name is Tokuda Junko. Born in Daimonji-cho, Komatsu City, the eldest daughter of a living national treasure, Tokuda Yajukichi III.
1980 Graduated from Komatsu High School and studied at Jamestown High School in New York, U.S.A.
1983 Graduated from Aoyama Gakuin Women’s Junior College
1984 Newscaster at NHK Kanazawa Broadcasting Station (-1986)
1986 Visited the world as a secretary and kimono missionary for her father, Tokuda Hachiyukichi III (-1989)
1990 Graduated from Ishikawa Kutaniyaki Technical Training Institute
Selected for the 46th Contemporary Art Exhibition. Selected for the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition ’90.
Touring exhibition in Australia
1991 Produced the ceramic wall “Kinrin” (JR Kanazawa Station)
Completed the Kanpei Studio. Began production activities at the studio.
1993 Selected for the 1st International BONSAI Ceramics Exhibition
1993 Grand Prize, Nissin Foods Contemporary Ceramics “MEN BOWL
First solo exhibition “101 Doggies” (Gallery Izumi, Negami Town, Nomi County, Ishikawa Prefecture
Gallery Izumi, Negami Town, Nomi County, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan)
1994 Produced the ceramic wall “Dorin II” at Komatsu City Sukoyaka Center.
1995 Produced a wall painting “Flower Mutsumi” at Rantei, Akiu Onsen, Sendai City.
1996 Produced a ceramic wall “KAWACHIKO” at Woody Hall, Kawachi Village, Japan
Instructed ceramics at Kuala Lumpur College of Art (KLCA), Malaysia
1998 Produced a wall painting “Spring” at APA Hotel Kanazawa, Japan
2001 Produced a ceramic wall “LOVE” at APA Hotel Nishiazabu, Tokyo.
2008 Selected for the 49th Ishikawa Traditional Crafts Exhibition
Selected for the 55th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
2009 Selected, The 50th Exhibition of Traditional Crafts of Ishikawa
Selected, 56th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
2010 Succeeded to the name of Tokuda Yajukichi IV
Selected for the 57th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
2012 The 1st Public Call for Entries, “Tea Ceremony Today: Uses and Forms”
Selected, 59th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
Recognized as a regular member of the Japan Kogei Association
japanese-ceramics.com/tokuda-yasokichi-4th-%e5%9b%9b%e4%bb%a3-%e5%be%b3%e7%94%b0%e5%85%ab%e5%8d%81%e5%90%89/

Asakura Isokichi II 二代浅蔵五十吉
1913-

Maker's mark on base reads 五十吉九谷 (Isokichi, Kutani)
After studying under Tokuda Yasokichi in 1928 at the age of 15, he began studying under Kitade Tojiro in 1946.
After receiving the Hokuto Prize in 1952 and 1955, the Special Prize and the Hokuto Prize in 1957, and the Prime Minister’s Prize in 1977, he was awarded the Japan Art Academy Prize in 1981 for his work “Impressions on Sado Island,” which was entered in the Nitten exhibition the previous year.
He is the leading figure in modern kutani painting.
japanese-ceramics.com/asakura-isokichi-%e6%b5%85%e8%94%b5%e4%ba%94%e5%8d%81%e5%90%89/

Kitamura Takashi 北村隆
1946-

From Komatsu, Ishikawa. Studied under the potter Asakura Isokichi from a young age. Selected for the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition and the Japanese Modern Fine Art Exhibition. Member of the Japan Modern Fine Art Association. Engaged in a wide range of activities, including production of a Ko-Kutani style design of an original painting by Shimizu Kosho from Todaiji. Works focus on gold leaf under the glaze and Takando-style gold decorations.
japanese-ceramics.com/kitamura-takashi-%e5%8c%97%e6%9d%91%e9%9a%86/