Tokuda Yasokichi |
|---|
| Born | (1873-11-20)20 November 1873 |
|---|
| Died | 20 February 1956(1956-02-20) (aged 82) |
|---|
| Nationality | Japanese |
|---|
| Known for | Crafting pottery |
|---|
| Style | Kutani ware |
|---|
Tokuda Yasokichi I (20 November 1873 – 20 February 1956）(徳田八十吉) was a Japanese potter. He specialized in Kutani ware studying the works of Kokutani as well as Yoshidaya color pottery techniques of the Edo period. He succeeded in the reproduction of “Five Colors of Kokutani” in the overglaze colors. These colors are Prussian blue, purple, green, yellow, and red. The formula for these colors became the family secret of the Tokudas and has been handed down within the family.[1]
Successors:
Tokuda Yasokichi II, (Momokichi), (二代徳田八十吉) (1907-1997)
In 1923 when he was a teenager, Tokuda Yasokichi II was adopted by Tokuda Yasokichi I.[2] He learned Kutani ware from his father and demonstrated his abilities by submitting works to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Craft Exhibition. After the death of his father, in 1956, he took took on the formal name Tokuda Yasokichi II. In 1975, he was certified as an intangible cultural property designated by Ishikawa Prefecture. In 1988 he handed over the Yasokichi title to his eldest son Masahiko, after which he called himself Momokichi.
Tokuda Yasokichi III, (born Masahiko), (三代徳田八十吉), (1933–2009)
Masahiko was the first son of Tokuda Yasokichi II. He began learning ceramics when he was 20 under the instruction of both his father and grandfather. When Masahiko was 22 years old, his grandfather is said to have passed a document to him containing the secret formulas to preparing over 100 different shades of glaze colors.[3] He is said to have interpreted the Kutani in a new way with abstract, colourful designs.[4] In 1982, Masahiko succeeded his father and formally became Tokuda Yasokichi III.
In 1986, he was named a Bearer of Important Intangible Cultural Assets by Ishikawa Prefecture for his Kutani ware. In the 1980's, after switching over to an electric kiln, he made a mistake during a firing and forgot to switch the kiln off at the normal time. As a consequence when the error was finally caught, the ceramics within the kiln had been heated to a far higher temperature than normal and held at that temperature a long time.[1] This caused the glazes to liquify and adjacent glazes to blend together. Instead of an abrupt color change between different glaze colors, there was now a color gradient. Further, the piece as a whole took on the appearance of blown glass. To make some of his advanced works, he first created a fine pattern inlayed into the work before glazing.
The blending of multiple glaze colors, yusai, was termed saiyu. It is characterized by delicate shading and a beautiful contrast of glaze colors. In 1997 Tokuda Yasokichi III was recognized as a Living National Treasure for his saiyu glaze technique.[5][6] His works are held in many museums, including the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[7]
During his career, Tokuda Yasokichi III utilized 4 different signature styles. While confusing, these different styles help identify when a particular work of his was produced. See external link section for a document containing all 4 styles as well as the signature for Tokuda Yasokichi IV. The four signature styles were associated with the following time periods:
- Early works when he was known as Masahiko ending around 1982
- 1982 after being recognized as Tokuda Yasokichi III until around 1991
- In 1991 his signature style changed indicating the work was "Made by Yasokichi" [8]
- In 1997 he added the Japanese character saku after he was designated a Living National Treasure[8]
Tokuda Yasokichi IV, (born Junko), (第代徳田八十吉), (1961–)
Yasokichi III was succeeded by his daughter Junko .[1] Junko studied studied Kutani Pottery in her twenties at Ishikawa Prefectural Institute.[9] She reports she was greatly influenced by artist Nakamura Kinpei from Kanazawa who has created many works in the Tokyo-yaki style. In 2009, her work was selected for the traditional Japanese crafts exhibition. In 2010, she formally changed her name becoming Tokuda Yasokichi IV, to prevent it from becoming extinct. As a female head, she is exceptional among ceramic family dynasties in Japan.[10] In general, saiyu glazed works by Yasokichi IV can be differentiated from those of her father by her signature and her color patterns. Yasokichi IV colors tend to be lighter and she will sometimes utilize reds, more yellow, or even whites, whereas colors selected by her father tend towards deep blues at the base of his works to light greens. In an article she was quoted as saying, "My father’s work was characterised by sharp lines, but I strive towards subtle changes to make my style more round and feminine."[9]
