'Sometsuke: Celebrating Four Centuries of Japanese Porcelain'

Hizen-ware foliated dish with butterfly design (Mid 17th century) | NEZU MUSEUM, GIFT OF YAMAMOTO MASAYUKI

by Yuki Yamauchi
Staff Writer

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Jan 3, 2017

Jan. 7-Feb. 19

It is believed that Korean ceramist Yi Sam-pyeong, having traveled to Japan near the end of the 16th century, discovered kaolin white clay in Hizen Province (Saga Prefecture) and produced the first Japanese porcelain in 1616.

Known as Hizen ware, or Imari ware, as they were exported from Imari port, porcelain became a prosperous business when production techniques improved during the Edo Period (1603-1868).

Displayed in this exhibition are Hizen-ware pieces made between the 17th and 19th centuries, which were donated to the museum by the art collector Masayuki Yamamoto. Variations in style include sometsuke (underglaze cobalt blue), seiji (celadon) and iro-e (overglaze enamel).

Nezu Museum; 6-5-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Omotesando Stn. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ¥1,100. Closed Mon. 03-3400-2536; www.nezu-muse.or.jp