Monthly Archives: May 2014

Kenkichi Tomimoto: Sake cup, overglaze enamels

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Kenkichi Tomimoto　富本 憲吉

1886 Born in Ando village, Nara prefecture. 
1904 Entered the design course at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts.
1908 Studied architecture and interior decoration in England.
1910 Returned to Japan. 
         Began woodprint and other fine arts.
1913 Began Raku ware influenced by Bernard Leach.
1919 Began white porcelain.
1926 Involved with Mingei movement with Shoji Hamada and 
         Kanjiro Kawai.
1927 Moved to Soshigaya, Tokyo.
1935 Became a professor at Musashino Art University.
1944 became a professor at Tokyo School of Fine Arts.
1946 Resigned his position. Moved to Kyoto.
1948 Solo exhibition at Ginza Kuroda Touen. 
1949 Show at Ginza Kuroda Touen. ‘Kenkichi Tomimoto- Ceramic Plaque Exhibition’
1950 Became a professor at Kyoto City University of Fine Arts.
1955 Designated the first Living National Treasure.
1961 Received the Order of Cultural Merit.
1963 Became a president at Kyoto City University of Fine Arts.
         Passed away at the age of 77.

Chikushun Kawase I: Sake cup, E-karatsu type

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Chikushun Kawase  川瀬 竹春

1894 Born in Gifu.
1907 Moved to Seto city, and began ceramics.
1910 Moved to Kyoto. Apprenticed to Yohei SeifuⅢ.
1915 Apprenticed to Chikusen MiuraⅡ.
1919 Began producing works at Higashiyama, Kyoto.
1927 Moved to Higashiyama Gojo, Kyoto.
1941 Solo exhibition in Shanghai.
1949 Invited to a kiln owned by Mitsui Family in Oiso.
1953 Moved to Oiso, Kanagawa prefecture.
1955 Designated a Living National Treasure.
1966 Received a Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon.
1970 Received the Order of the sacred treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
1979 Handed the reigns of the family over to the first son, Junichi, and named himself as Chikuou.
1983 Passed away at the age of 89.

Toyozo Arakawa: Sake cup, Kiseto type

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Toyozo Arakawa 荒川豊蔵

1894 Born in Tajimi, Gifu prefecture.
1922 Moved to Kyoto. Met Rosanjin Kitaoji.
1927 Moved to Kamakura. Worked at Rosanjin’s Hoshigaoka Kiln.
1933 Quit Hoshigaoka Kiln. Moved to Mutabora in Mino Ogaya, Gifu prefecture, and built his studio.
1941 The first solo exhibition held at Umeda Hankyu department store. (Curated by Ginza Kuroda Touen)
1946 Built Suigetsu kiln in Tajimi.
1955 Designated the Living national treasure.
1971 Received the Order of Cultural Merit.
1977 Published a collection of essays.
1985 Passed away at the age of 91.

Sozan Kaneshige: Sake cup, Bizen type

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Sozan Kaneshige 　金重 素山

1909 Born in Bizen, Okayama. Young brother of Toyo Kaneshige.
1927 Began producing works.
1951 Moved to Kameoka, Kyoto.
1953 Built a kiln in Kameoka. Produced Kohiki and Nerikomi type.
1964 Returned to Okayama. Built an ascending kiln.
1966 Succeeded in producing Hidasuki type by electric kiln.
1983 Designated as an intangible cultural property by Okayama prefecture. First firing of a kiln in Inbe, Okayama.
1991 Received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold rays with Rosette.
1995 Passed away at the age of 86.

Rosanjin Kitaoji: Sake cup, Karatsu type

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Rosanjin Kitaoji　北大路 魯山人

1883 Born in Shimogamo Kitaoji, Kyoto.

1907 Began his career as a calligrapher in Tokyo.

1916 Wandered around Korea, China, Shiga, Fukui, and Kanazawa. Returned to Kyoto.

1919 Opened his antique shop in Tokyo.

1921 Began 'Bishoku club' (Gourmet's club) which serves his food with his collections.

1925 Began 'Hoshigaoka Saryo'. (Members-only restaurant)

1928 Built 'Hoshigaoka kiln' in Kamakura for producing dishes used in the restaurant.
His 　　  reputation rose as his works exhibited in department stores and the restaurant.

1935 Started focusing on producing ceramics.

1936 Left the management of the restaurant. 

1937 The first exhibition of his new works held at Ginza Kuroda Touen.

1939 The Hoshigaoka kiln was blisk holding about 50 staff around this year. 

1942 Evacuation in Ishikawa prefecture. Produced lacquer ware there.

1954 Held a solo exhibition in New York, invited by Rockefeller Foundation.

         Visited U.S. and Europe. 

1955 Declined certification of a living national treasure.

1956 Actively held exhibitions in Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagoya.

1959 Passed away at the age of 77.