dish
- Museum number
- 2002,0402.30
- Title
- Object: 薫風 Kunpū (Balmy Breeze)
- Description
-
Large circular dish. Made of mould-formed porcelain, decorated with abstract design in underglaze cobalt blue.
- Production date
- 1999
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 48.70 centimetres
-
Height: 10.30 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- This large and compelling dish was created by Shomura Ken, a fifth-generation ceramic artist working in the heart of Arita’s old ceramic centre. His family’s kiln is named Banko and was created in 1884 right next to the old enameller’s quarters.
Shomura is a master potter, known for his ability to throw on the wheel. He apprenticed for six years with Inoue Manji, a renowned master known for his forming of pots, but has created his own style of work since establishing himself in his family’s kiln. Shomura specialises in glaze effects, which transform the surface of his vessels to give a sense of movement and depth.
Shomura pushes the medium of porcelain into new directions influenced by textile dyes and stoneware glaze effects, which he labels benizome (red tint) and aizome (blue tint). Here we see his use of aizome or cobalt blue tint undulating towards the centre of the dish, reflecting a softness and motion that is unusual in porcelain.
(N. C. Rousmaniere, Sep, 2013)
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2007 - 2010, May - Feb, London, BM, GNorthStr, permanent display
2000-2001 20 Oct-14 Jan, British Museum, Saga Contemporary Ceramics from the Home of Japanese Porcelain
2013 Oct - , BM Japanese Galleries, 'Japan from Prehistory to the Present'
- Acquisition date
- 2002
- Acquisition notes
- Part of a collective gift of 63 works by members of Saga Ceramic Art Association.
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 2002,0402.30
