九谷焼と達磨−焼物散歩
Kutani ware is pottery for everyday life and for the tea ceremony, made
in the Kaga Province (now Ishikawa Prefecture). The tradition started
in the late 17th century. The Old Kutani (kokutani 古九谷) ware has a
dark restrained overglaze enamel and dishes and bowls were most common.
Other colors are a dull white glaze or a shiny indigo tinge to a dark
blue. The characteristic colors are dark yellow and green.
Kutani ware is quite colorful and the designs go back to Chinese porcelains.
The Yoshidaya Kiln (吉田家窯1823 - 31) revived the tradition of Old Kutani.
Read more about it on the following HP. I quote just a few paragraphs
for you.
China-making in Kutani dates back around 340 years to the middle of the 17th century. As part of a policy to encourage local industry, a kiln to make colored porcelain was established at Kutani village, when high-quality china clay was discovered there. Potters were brought from Hizen (in present-day Saga Prefecture), which was known at the time as a center of porcelain production. This was the beginning of the local manufacture of colored china.
The type of pottery was named Kutaniyaki after the village where it began. It had a distinctive style that involved the plentiful use of Kutani gosai, or the five hues of Kutani, including deep blue, purple, yellow, green, and red, which were used to cover the entire surface with colored decoration. Themes included birds and flowers, landscape motifs, and geometrical patterns.
In 1710, however, after half a century of continuous production, the kiln was suddenly closed. People have suggested a number of reasons, but nobody really knows why it was closed down. Pottery from this early period is known as Old Kutani, and it forms a separate category from Kutani ware of later years produced after the industry was revived in the 19th century. In the early 19th century, the local ruling clan, which was enjoying power and influence, revived China-making in Kutani. After this, a number of potters and master craftsmen grew up in the area. Among them, Shoza Kutani did much to establish the reputation of Kutani ware in the second half of the 19th century.
http://jin.jcic.or.jp/atlas/crafts/cra13.html
九谷焼とは
九谷焼の歴史は、江戸時代初期の1655（明暦元）年ごろにさかのぼります。加賀の支藩だった大聖寺藩の初代藩主・前田利治（まえだ・としはる）が、領内の九谷（現在の石川県山中町九谷）の金山で磁鉱が発見されたのに着目し、金山で錬金の役を務めていた後藤才次郎に命じて肥前有田で製陶を学ばせました。その技術を導入し、九谷に窯を築いたのが始まりとされています。
九谷の窯は1730（享保15）年ごろに突然、閉じられてしまいましたが、原因はいまだに定かではありません。この間に焼かれたものが後世、古九谷（こくたに）と呼ばれ、日本の色絵磁器の代表として独特の力強い様式美が高く評価されています。
http://www.kutaniyaki.or.jp/
You can find more about different styles of Kutani pottery on this HP.
九谷焼のスタイルについてはこちら。
http://www.guinomi.com/kutani/kutani_e.htm
Now let us hava a look at some Daruma figures made in the Kutani Tradition:
TWO PRE-WAR AO KUTANI SIGNED DARUMA OKIMONO
A set of 2 very well sculpted Daruma in typical Ao Kutani colors; one
playing the flute, one playing the Tsutsumi hand drum. They feature outstanding
detail to the face and hands, and each is signed and stamped on bottom.
They stand 5 1/2 inches tall and come in a new, high quality kiri box.
The Kura
Kyoto shi Fushimi ku, Juraku cho 2-690-2 The Kura, 612-8343 JAPAN tel.0756126220
http://www.the-kura.com/items/42917/item42917store.html
In the following Kutani Internet Catalog, you can find some fine examples
of contemporary Kutani Ware. Let us have a look at three of the Darumas
they offer.
このインターネット カタログに現代の九谷焼のすばらしい例や達磨さんがあります。
Daruma with a son on his knee is very rare. Sometimes we find a Daruma
with a Chinese Child (karako 唐子) as a netsuke.
Bodhidharma figure, Colored (H32*W15cm, cardboard box)
Finally I want to show you some Kutani Darumas of my collection.
最後に私のコレクションの達磨を見てください。
春の日差しで耳書きをしてもらう達磨さんです。
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Daruma likes to have his ears cleaned. Here is one more in this pose.
He is about 25 cm high. The expression on his face is just great, one
eye blinking as if he was already thinking of the enjoyment after his
ears are done with.
もう一人耳書きの達磨さん。顔の表情がなんとも言えなくて楽しそうですね。これからどんな楽しみが待っているのか…
You can also find similar ones in this shop.
http://www.incl.ne.jp/taga/ca_htmle/c43_12.htm
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And now look at some of my Darumas in colorful robes with gilded decoration.
This one is playing the flute, we already met him during the Flowerviewing
season (hanami).
鮮やかな衣の達磨があります。笛を吹いて、花見の話にも会った達磨です。
The following is also on sale online.
http://www.1stchoicejapan.com/english/culture/top/top.phtml
I will tell you more about Kutani Darumas in the stories about other items
of this material in everyday use objects.
gokuraku@po.harenet.ne.jp
