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4. Tea bowl by an unidentified artist Japan 18th c. Glazed ceramic 3 1/2 in. high, 5 in. wide |
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Shimazu Yoshihiro (1535-1619), Daimyo of the Satsuma domain in southern Kyushu had a strong affection for pottery. He was a passionate devotee of the tea ceremony and a desciple of Sen Rikyu (1522-1591). He shared his masters admiration for provincial Korean wares. When he happened to be engaged in military affairs on Korean battlefields, from which he would return as one of the celebrated winners in 1598, he took the opportunity to take along a number of Koreans, some say more than seventy. This was a an unfriendly take-over but a substantial acquistition of external knowledge. This was needed to start the production of Satsuma wares on Kyushu. One of those Koreans was Kim Hai (1569-1621), also known by the Japanese pronunciation of his name: Kinkai. His work was of outstanding quality and greatly pleased the Daimyo, who made the potter a samurai and changed his name to Hosiyama Chuji. His descendants continued to work until the end end of the Edo period, mid 19th century. The most typical features of the Korean style Kinkai wares are the marks scratched into the wet glaze on the outside of the bowl and the rather high split foot. These features apparent on the bowl illustrated made one of the previous owner brush on the box "Korean Kinkai tea bow" (Korai Kinkai Chawan) the box. The fact that the bowl was produced in Hagi, another kiln founded by Korean potters brought there after Hideyoshi's Korean campaign, in the 18th century is not mentioned in the insciption. Box with inscription "Korean Kinkai tea bowl" (Korai Kinkai Chawan) and label "Kinkai tea bowl" (Kinkai Chawan) Detail: Different view Detail: Different view |