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Comparing Chinese Antique Porcelain with Japanese Antique Porcelain

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 23:59:20 +0000

Comparing Chinese Antique Porcelain with Japanese Porcelain

The Story of Imari: The Symbols and Mysteries of Antique Japanese Porcelain

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 16:46:57 +0000

Fired in the kilns of Arita, Japan, eight miles south of the seaport town after which it was named, Imari porcelain is distinguished by the beautiful visual effects produced by its blue underglaze and color overglaze enamels. In THE STORY OF IMARI, author Goro Shimura describes the cultural and historical significance of these prized porcelain bowls, plates, vases, teacups, and other wares. Examining the artistry and stories behind specific pieces, Shimura analyzes their glazes, patterns, motifs, and functions, weaving in tales of emperors, tea ceremonies, cranes, surfing rabbits, and more. This is Imari in all its colorful glory, from the grandest histories to the smallest details.

Antiques Week in Philadelphia Starts Today

admin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:04:33 +0000

By Karla Klein Albertson
Inquirer Antiques Columnist

Antique Japanese Nabeshima and Hirado Porcelain

admin — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 15:23:57 +0000

NABESHIMA
The porcelain of Nabeshima (named after the ruling clan) was made at Okawachi, north of Arita, probably from the latter half of the 17th century until c.1870, exclusively for the ruling shogun and feudal lords. As this ware was the preserve of the aristocracy, little of it except “kiln wasters”, or seconds, would have reached the West before the late 19th century. A few examples have been sold at auction since World War II (including some of questionable date). Apart from a few pieces of hollow-ware – bottles, vases, boxes, and censers –most surviving items are dishes. In that category the majority are saucer dishes with exceptionally tall foot-rims (over 1.2cm high); the remainder are small pieces of various shapes.

Japanese Satsuma Ceramics

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:05:02 +0000

Satsuma is the name of a type of earthenware initially made in various kilns in Chosa, Ryumonji, Tateno and Naeshirogawa, in the Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima, on the island of Kyushu. All these places were under the control of the feudal lord of Satsuma.
In the late 1590s, Shimazu Yoshihiro — the lord of Satsuma — returned to Japan after fighting a war in Korea. He kidnapped a group of 22 Korean potters and their families, and put them to work in 1601, making ceramics from the white clay found at Naeshirogawa.
With strict race laws prohibiting intermarriage, these potters and their families were kept completely separate from the rest of the Japanese population. By the third quarter of the 19th century, there were more than 1,400 of these artisans, and all were engaged in pottery-making.

Antique Japanese Kakiemon Porcelain

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:37:17 +0000

A type of Arita ware, Kakiemon is delicate porcelain with a distinctive palette. The name is derived from a family of potters and enamellers working in Arita, who are traditionally believed to have introduced overglaze enameling on porcelain to Japan in the 1640s. The extremely fine, milky-white body (nigoshide) was believed to have been exclusive to the Kakiemon kiln, although this is now disputed. Wares include small dishes, bottles, bowls, and vases, many of which are of geometric form.

Antique Japanese Imari Porcelain

admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:52:01 +0000

When we think of ancient Japanese porcelain, Imari is often quite bright, but not all Japanese Imari was brilliant. A famous 19th century porcelain maker Seto, Aichi Prefecture in Japan, its porcelain decorated with blue sapphire very distinctive paint the typical naturalist, Zen influenced items such as herbs dominated forests pine, willow and rock formations of windblown trees.

"Seto" refers to the city and the style of pottery originated there. Seto is also one of Japan famous "six old kilns".
Seto Porcelain arrived late. His first appearance in the 19th century, when he returned Kato Seto Tamikichi to the island of Kyushu, and successfully fired porcelain decorated cobalt blue. Tamikichi is, in fact, considered the "father of porcelain in the area Seto.
But to see the big picture, we must look through the long history of Japanese art and design, to identify some of the many influences, both internal and external, have contributed to today's recognizable "Japanese design.