Seto ware *

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seto_ware

Unlike most other wares that usually focus on either pottery (Mashiko ware) or porcelain (Arita ware), Seto ware is extremely broad and encompasses both well known pottery styles (particularly the Horse-Eye Plates favored by Mingei style enthusiasts) and lesser known porcelain styles (Seto celadon porcelain is often misattributed as Chinese, and Seto blue and white porcelain is often misattributed as Arita ware). Because of it's prevalence, in Japan the generic term for pottery is Setomono.

See also:
Arita ware
Sōma ware
Oribe ware
Shino ware
Mino ware

Seto pottery

Marks

Seto porcelain - Celadon

Seto porcelain - Blue & White

Fukagaya sei 深萱製大日本

深萱製大日本

Takeuchi Chubei 竹内忠兵衛

Takeuchi Chubei 竹内忠兵衛 Late Edo period-?

Cloisonné ware ceramist. He worked with Suzuki Seiichiro and Tsukamoto Jinuemon at the Dai Nippon Shippo Company(now the Ando Cloisonné Company), established in Nagoya in 1871, as the central figures producing cloisonné ware at the time. At the Centennial Exposition in 1876, and the first and second National Industrial Exhibitions in 1877 and 1881, he was recognized for his extraordinary skills and continued to submit his works under the Dai Nippon Shippo Company, Yokohama Tashiro Shoten Ltd. names as well as under his own, and was widely praised both in Japan and abroad.
He created a piece of what he called Ishima ware in 1887, and received a patent for it in 1889.
japan-antiques.jp/wp/takeuchi-chubei-%e7%ab%b9%e5%86%85%e5%bf%a0%e5%85%b5%e8%a1%9b/

CHUBEI
Takeuchi Chubei (1852-1922)
竹内忠兵衛

Not much is known about the life of Takeuchi Chubei but he is considered to be one of the ceramics master of Meiji time. He was born in 1852 and worked in Nagoyama where Seto made products were painted on such a large scale that Nagoyama became a hallmark of Seto's export ceramic production. Takeuchi Chiubei's ceramics shop which opened around 1887 only lasted for a few years and closed in 1890. The work of Takeuchi Chubei is for two reasons important in history of japanese ceramics. He was the master of Totai- that is cloissonne on eartenware or porcelain, and he invented te Ishime-yaki-also called ‘Sharkskin’ decoration on which the body has a rough but very fine structure.

Totai-shippoTotai-ware, also referred to as Totai-shippo (or Jiki-shippo when silverdreads are used) is cloisonné on ceramics . It has the appearance of metallic cloisonné ware, however some parts of the surface might be left decorated as normal porcelain. Cloisonne is a technique where metal edges are applied to the surface to keep the different colors of enamel separated from each other. On normal cloisonne copper is used as the body on wich the metal dreads and the enamels are layed, but in Totai-shippo the body is earthenware. The process of making cloisonné begins with the porcelain or earhenware base formed into different shapes of vases, jars, and bowls, to which flat bronze wires are then affixed in decorative patterns. Enamels of different colors are applied to fill the cloisonné or hollows. Because earthenware and metal expand to varying degrees after firing, it is extremely vulnerable.
For this reason Totai Shippo products were only made for a short period of time, around 1880 and after a short period of ten years discontinued because of the difficulty in producing specimens that were not flawed or damaged in manufacture. Specimens of high quality and in excellent condition are very difficult to find. It was produced at Shippo-Gaisha factory in Nagoya, in the Aichi prefecture of Honshu, Japan. Takeuchi Chubei was one of the most prolific artists associated with Shippo Gaisha who produced totai shippo pieces.
Cloisonne on metal as silver, bronze or copper was mastered well before Takeuchi Chubei but he has perfected the process of Totai-shippo and is considered the master of Totai-ware, and some scholars even believe that he was literally the only artison who could master the extremely difficult process so perfectly.
大日本製造七宝会社工人竹内忠兵衛/(Dai Nippon, sei-zo, Shippo Kuwaisha, kozin, Takeuchi Chiu-beye.)
Two examples of Chubei Takeuchi's work in Totai Shippo technique.
Sharkskin- decoration
Another special type of decoration is called “Ishime-yaki” or “Sharkskin” on which the body has a rough but very fine surface. It has the look of satin but feels as fine sandpaper. Sharkskin glazed decoration was invented by Takeuchi Chobei) who got a patent for it in 1882. He always signed this ware with the patent number 二二五二五一五" (2252515) and his name Takeuchi.
Its tactile surface earns it the name 'sharkskin', but it also is known by the trade name 'Coralene'. The rough surface was created by painting the pottery and then sprinkling it with a powder of special transparent fluxes that melts over low heat. The texture of this stone suppresses light reflection, combined with light blue and light red tones that are blown onto the substrate, creating a unique beauty with a light and soft atmosphere. Due to its cost, Japanese sharkskin porcelain was made only for a short time during the late 19th and early 20th century.
www.satsuma-database.com/masters-from-edo-meiji-and-taisho-period/13-takeuchi-chubei

Kato Shunko 春光

Kato Shunko was an ardent student of pottery techniques and traditions originating beyond Japan. Around 1875 he established a pottery in Seto, Aichi Prefecture and started to export Seto ware around 1881-1882. He worked assiduously to expand his business to become Seto's largest factory, providing Morimura-gumi with both clay and unfired pottery blanks. He also had its own "Shunko" brand porcelain. His porcelain works are noted for their thinness and beautiful shapes.
Later his wares began to be sold by the Morimura Group, which ultimately established Noritake. Thus, his wares are so-called "pre-Nippon", early examples of Japanese ware for Western markets and are sometimes grouped with "Old Noritake", though actually pre-dating Noritake.
Kato is the family name, Shunko is the given name.
春光製 (Shunko sei (made by Shunko))

Ichikawa Chikusen 市川竹川
Seto Akazu ware

Kato Sakusuke 加藤作助
1808-1893

Real name Sakube. Born into Owari Akatsu’s family of potters, he took over the family business as Kato Kagekiyo and was known for producing both Japanese and Western ceramics for daily use such as sake sets and tea sets. Renamed Sakusuke in his later years. Primarily focused on Furutabe and Kizeto studied by each generation of his family, specializing in tea-ware.
japan-antiques.jp/wp/kato-sakusuke-%e5%8a%a0%e8%97%a4%e4%bd%9c%e5%8a%a9/

Kato Usuke 加藤宇助
1915-1981

Kato Usuke, a potter of Seto and Akazu ware, was born in 1915 as the son of Usaburo the 20th. With his ancestor being the second son of the father of Seto ware, Kato Kagemasa Second Generation Toshiro Motomichi, Fuji Saemon as the first generation, he takes his name Usuke from the 17th Generation Keitoku Jinzo. His teaware products include koseto, setoguro, shino, and oribe among others, and there are many excellent products that could easily fit in with ancient works. Usuke’s works are engraved with his signature, “う(U)”. He has held solo exhibitions in various parts of Japan, in Los Angeles, and in Czechoslovakia his works are highly regarded, with some of them even being considered works that will be permanently preserved.Since Kato Usuke is considered the best potter for Seto, he has received many requests to make imitations from the Kamakura period.
In 1959, a vase with the inscription “Einin 2” (1294) was discovered, and it was designated as one of Japan’s Important Cultural Properties as a koseto masterpiece from the Kamakura period. However, it was discovered that this work was a contemporary one by the potter, Kato Tokuro (1896-1985), and two years later it had its status as an Important Cultural Property revoked. It was a scandal involving the Art History Society, the Ancient Art Society, and the Administration for Cultural Property Protection, where the cultural official who recommended its designation as an Important Cultural Property took responsibility and resigned.
https://japanese-ceramics.com/kato-usuke-%e5%8a%a0%e8%97%a4%e5%ae%87%e5%8a%a9/
https://chano-yu.com/famous-japanese-potters-and-marks/#kato-usuke