Sasashima ware (笹島焼 Sasashima-yaki) is a type of Japanese pottery from Nagoya, Owari province, later Aichi prefecture, central Japan.[1]
History[edit]
It was based in the Sasashima-chō neighbourhood, not far from Nagoya Station, today a part of Nakamura-ku, Nagoya. It was produced from 1804 to 1923 in three generations.
The first master was Maki Bunshichi, named Bokusai (1782-1857). He studied painting as well as sculpture. With his talent he tried different models, colours, and patterns on his works. He made tea and sake utensils and was praised as a master of his craft. He made Hagiyama pieces for the 12th Owari Lord Tokugawa Naritaka.
Characteristics[edit]
There are various stamps with Shinojima and Sasashima with various kanji characters.
The square bowl at the Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum depicts a mythological whale or makara (摩竭 ; makatsu) and at the rim a pierced plum flower pattern. At the bottom are four feet and the stamp in a calabash form with the name "Sasashima".[2]
In the same museum the sencha bowls with handle are done in a refined manner. On it is written "Yugetsu Kofu" which means "the moon is my friend and I am conversing with the wind", which can be traced back to a saying by a hermite. On the lid is written "bliss on the southern mountain, and from the eastern sea also comes bliss". Next to the kodai stamp is written his name.[3]
See also[edit]
During the time of the production Ofukei ware, Hagiyama ware and Toyoraku ware were also made, mostly for tea utensils.
Other pottery from Nagoya and the wider Owari region:
References[edit]
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External links[edit]
Media related to Sasashima ware at Wikimedia Commons