Chats on Oriental China

by J. F. Blacker

He now adopted the purely Japanese style, and combined with it the beauty of the Chinese glazes in different colours, and it was when he ceased to be an imitator and became an originator that he became an artist. He imitated every kind of ware, from coarse Korean pottery and the brilliant colours of China to the severe styles of Ninsei and Kenzam. His pieces were generally marked. He also made many imitations of Dutch delft.

After his death, the son of a dealer of Isé, into whose hands the formula of Gozayemoné had fallen, assumed the name of Banko, after having bought the stamp from his grandson. He made a peculiar kind of stoneware, unglazed, in which the mould, made up of several sections, was placed inside the clay to be modelled. Hence, on the outside, the lines of the skin of the hand are shown, and the designs are as sharp, if not sharper, inside as outside the pottery, which from this method of working had to be very thin. He also decorated pieces with storks, dragons, &c., in relief and other pieces, with clever designs in coloured slips on a green or deep brown ground. This Isé Banko ware is nearly always stamped.

Soma Ware.

This is a most peculiar ware, which consisted chiefly of small teacups or bowls, having a rough indented surface on the outside, but remarkably smooth to the lips, with a horse in relief or painted, sometimes tied to a stake. The name of the ware and the badge were derived from the Prince of the territory. The ceremony of tea-drinking amongst the Japanese was almost a cult. The rites were followed under the direction of a Tchadjin, or master of the ceremonies, and, amongst other usages, the shape and decoration of the cups varied with the season. Some were made by hand instead of by the aid of a wheel, and most of the factories tried to satisfy the native connoisseur.

Sanda Ware.

In 1690 a kiln was erected by the Prince of the province of Setsu to imitate Chinese Celadon. At first pottery was made, but towards the end of the eighteenth century porcelain methods were brought from Arita with such successful results that the excellent sea-green Celadon of Sanda attained great celebrity, in some degree owing to the considerable quantity of it which was made. In colour Sanda Celadon is bright green, less warm than that of China and less delicate than the Nabeshima ware.

Sheba Ware.

The eggshell porcelain of Japan is not ancient, but near Tokio a factory produces saki cups which are exceedingly pretty, being elegant in shape and decoration and having a thin delicate paste. Sometimes they are covered outside with basket-work, very finely woven.

Notes on Other Wares.

At Seto, in Owari province, both porcelain and pottery were made; the former was an importation from Arita, which has now become so important that porcelain in Japan is known as Seto-mono or Seto ware. Here, too, was made a kind of stoneware much esteemed by the tea clubs.