[Sometsuke]
Blue and white porcelain. On the surface of biscuit firing pottery, designs are painted with cobalt oxide paint.
Arita ware is the first Sometsuke ceramic in Japan. The Nabeshima kiln made superior sometsuke.
Xiang-Rui is one style of sometsuke made in China around 1628 to 1644. Xiang-Rui style has various geometric patterns drawn with bliliant blue color.
[Douhachi TAKAHASHI]
A Kyoyaki potter. The name has been succeeded from the first generation in late Edo period. Each generations has created great works of Japanese tea and Sencha utensils.
First Generation: Douhachi (1740-1804)
He was born in Ise Kameyama Domain. He also used the name “Shofutei Kuchu”.
He left his parents house because he was the second son, and became a potter in Kyoto. Later he established his own kiln in Awataguchi, Kyoto. He lived in the age of Sencha, so he created several master peaces of Sencha utensils.
Second Generation: Douhachi (1783-1855)
The second son of the first generation. He was known as “Nonami Dohachi”. He studied pottery under Fumizo Hozan, and porcelain under Eisen Okuda. Died in 1855 at the age of 72.
Third Generation: Douhachi (1811-1879)
The oldest son of the 2nd generation. His childhood name was Dozan and his real name was Michifusa. Art names are Kachutei and Oudo.
He was invited to Takamatsu domain in 1850 and established Sanukigama kiln. In 1869, Saga domain invited him to learn Imariyaki. He succeeded in creating Seika and white porcelain. He was good at making porcelain, Mishimate, Hakeme and created many masterpieces of Sencha utensils.
Died in 1879, at the age of 69.
- Fourth Generation : Douhachi (1845-1897)
The son of the 3rd generation. His art name was Kachutei. _he succeeded the 4th generation Douhachi in 1874 and worked as a officer at an industrial site in Kyoto Prefecture. His specialties were seika ware, sculpture, and white porcelain.
Fifth Generation: Douhachi (1869-1914)
His real name was Yunosuke Ogawa. He was born in Koga, Shiga.
Because the 4th’s sons were too young when the 4th died, he succeeded the name for a limited time only.
- Sixth Generation: Douhachi (1881-1941)
The second son of the 4th generation Douhachi. His real name was Hidemitsu and his art name was Kachutei. Succeeded technique and methods from his father and the 5th generation, he created several masterpieces of Sometsuke Sencha wares.
- Seventh Generation: Douhachi (1910-1983)
His real name was Koichi.
-Eighth Generation: Dohachi (1938-2011)
The oldest son of the 7th generation Douhachi. After he graduated from Hiyoshigaoka High School in Kyoto, he studied the techniques of potter’s wheel at Kyoto Training School and the methods of graze at Kyoto Municipal Inst. of Industrial Res.
He also studied under his father then succeeded his father’s name in 1983.
He died because of a cancer in 2011 at the age of 73.