Modern Japanese Ceramics Pottery Contemporary

By Appointment is best. You might get lucky just popping by, but a great deal of the month I am out visiting artists or scouring up new items, so days in the gallery are limited.

Tomimoto Kenkichi Aka-e Yunomi Koro w/ Silver & Gold lid


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Directory: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Porcelain: Pre 1940: Item # 1441392

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Modern Japanese Ceramics
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A spectacular silver and gold lid covers this small basin by Tomimoto Kenkichi enclosed in a wooden box titled Aka-e Tsutsugata Yunomi and annotated within: Made by Tomimoto Kenkichi Sensei in 1925 signed by Tsujimoto Isamu (for more on him see below). The cup is covered inside with creamy white, outside in red with decoration of gold plum blossoms. It is surmounted by a solid silver lid pierced with leafy vines and peaked with a gold chrysanthemum. The cup is 7 cm (2-3/4 inches) diameter and in perfect condition, signed inside the foot.
Tomimoto Kenkichi (1886-1963) is one of Japan's finest and most important ceramic artists ever, voted the number one most influential potter of the 20th century by Honoho Magazine. He was born into a privileged family in Nara, and would spend part of his youth in England studying design and manufacturing techniques. In 1950, Tomimoto became the first professor to the Ceramic Section of the Department of Crafts, Kyoto City University of Arts. He was also involved in a number of art associations and art universities throughout his life and trained many influential ceramic artists of modern Japan. He would be appointed member of the Japan Imperial Art Academy, as well as designated an intangible cultural asset (Mukei Bunkazai or Living National Treasure), and awarded the Order of Cultural Merit. For an excellent read see the recent article by John Wright in Arts of Asia.
Tsujimoto Isamu was a patron and great collector of the works of Tomimoto during the artists lifetime. Following his death Isamu created the Tomimoto Kenkichi Kinenkan Museum, and served as the first director there.