Kinkozan Sobei : the story of an Awata Kiln: A study of Kyo-Satsuma:kyoto ceramics that touched the world (Japanese Edition)

Kinkozan Sobei: the story of an Awata Kiln A study of Kyo-Satsuma, Kyoto ceramics that touched the world This book is a critical biography of master craftsmen of an Awata Kiln, Kinkozan Sobei VI (1823-1884) and Kinkozan Sobei VII (1868-1927). Awata Kiln is considered to be the oldest kiln of the Kyoto ceramics. In the Edo period, Kinkozan Sobei VI was appointed as official potter for the Tokugawa shogunate and his kiln flourished in those years. Because of the following Meiji Restoration, however, he lost his major customers such as shogun and daimyo, feudal lords. In this difficult situation, he made every effort to refine the painting method for pottery and finally developed a new method called “Kyo-Satsuma.” The exhibits at the 1867 Paris Expo fascinated the West and a great admiration for Japanese cultures known as Japonism made exports of Kyo-Satsuma ware increase remarkably. In the Meiji period, Kinkozan workshop became the biggest Kyo-Satsuma kiln in Kyoto. After the death of Kinkozan Sobei VI, the reputation of Kyo-Satsuma declined. At the 1900 Paris Expo, Kinkozan Sobei VII was shocked by new Art Nouveau style ceramics and recognized that Japan was far behind the European nations in the technical innovation of ceramics. Then he started to reform the design and the method of production of Kyoto Ware in order to modernize Kyoto ceramics. As a result, Kinkozan Sobei VII achieved a big commercial success of Awata Kiln and established the finest pottery painting “Kyo-Satsuma” in the world. This book also includes a lot of pictures of Kinkozan’s magnificent masterpieces and some are very rare of the Kinkozan factory and his families. Lovers of Japanese Art will find this book full of interesting stories. The author Kazuo Kinkozan is a grandson of Sobei VII. Kazuo spent many years tracing back the family history with great passion wanting to inform the world of his grandfathers. This book is written by Japanese. Read more