Glossary
Akae kutani- 赤絵九谷
At the end of the Edo period (1603-1867), Kutani ware with a distinctive "red" color (called Akakutani, as opposed to Iroe or Aote) was produced, and it quickly spread throughout Kaga. The beauty of the style was highly valued, and by the middle of the Meiji period (1868-1912), some Akakutani ware was classified as a style called "Kutani akae" (red painting).
Akasaibyokinsai - 赤細描金彩
This refers to a particular painting style where gold dust, suspended in pine oil resin, is applied on red detailed design.
Bafuku
Name given to the governement of the Tokugawa regime.
Bajohai - 馬上盃
Sake cup (with stem)
Bashi - 鉢
Bowl
Bengala - Red pigment - 弁柄
Bengala is natural iron oxide. It has its origin in the Bengal region in India-Bangladesh where the process was first established. It is a very ancient technique. Bengala used in kutani akae is coming from Okayama prefecture where bengala is produced since many generations.
Bijin 美人
Bijin, represents a beautiful women. It goes back to the early 19 century when ukyoe artists were publishing prints of beautiful Geisha - Utamaro is one of the most famous artist.
Chu zara - 中皿
Medium dish
Daimyo
Title given to a Lord who govern a fief.
Daruma - 達磨
Daruma is the Japanese name of Dharma. He is considered as the father of the Zen buddhism. Daruma dolls are generally hollow figurines with red color. These dolls are considered as toys and bring good luck. It is a popular gift in Japan.
Fudai
Name given to the Daimyos who were hereditary vassals of Ieyasu or his successors and who were supporting Tokugawa government.
Fude - 筆
Name of a Japanese brush used for painting generally Kanji character or for underglaze painting..
Gosai - Five colors - 五彩
Red, blue, yellow, purple and green are the 5 Kutani colors. Generaly clear overglaze is put on top. This is called also in Japan Nishikide
Gosu - 呉須
Originally Gosu is coming from China, it is a natural product which content a lot of cobalt, manganese and iron. The natural color is almost black. This product is used as a paint materail for some tsuke.
Recently an artificial Gosu has been used.
Gosuakae - 呉須赤絵
It is a similar product than Gosu except that it is a red glaze. This product was first used in China in Canton district at the end of Ming begining of Shin dinasties.
Gosuaoe -呉須青絵
It is the same as Gosuakae but only using a green glaze instead of red.
Gosude - 呉須手
Originally it is a some tsuke Chinese style used in the south of China, west of Yang tse kyang and in Canton province at the end of Ming, begining of Shin dinasties.
The color of the cobalt is almost black and the color is not a very nice blue. This type of design which imitates the Chinese style when made in Japan is called Gosude.
Guinomi - ぐい呑み
Sake cup (high)
Gun - 郡
A Gun can be assimilated in Europe to a district.
Hachirode style
Style developped by Idaya Hachiroemon from Ono gama which consists on red detailled painting.
Haisen - 盃洗
Washing bowl
HanBashi - 半鉢
Half Bowl
Hanjiki
Half porcelain, it is made of kaolin clay which once glazed at high temperature become hard, the color is a not pure white but as a yellow, grey or even green tendency depending from the clay used. The surface is not so glassy and smooth as in a porcelain.
Hoshibokufu - 方氏墨譜
Red painting style created by Hachirode in Ono kiln and which was very popular at that time.
Jiki - 磁器
Porcelain, it is made of hard kaolin clay which once glazed at high temperature become very hard, white and very glassy and smooth. In general no Kutani ceramic can be classified as a Jiki but rather Hanjiki.
Jubako - 重箱
Picnic box
Karajishi Lion - 唐獅子
Japanese Lions are called Karajishi. They found their origin in China during Tang Dynasty. At that time people had not generally seen lions and they could only imagine a terrible animal. Karajishi is believed to be born from a dragon.
Karajishi is placed at the entrance of a home to protect against devils and bring good luck. A lion with its paw resting on a ball is a male, whereas the female protects a cub with its foreleg.
Ken - 県
It is the equivalent of a Prefecture.
Kinrande - 金欄手
Gold decoration on red back ground
Kinsai akae - 金彩赤絵
Red brocade
Koma Inu - 狛犬
Japanese Koma Inu (狛犬) often called lion-dogs in English, are statue pairs of lion-like creatures either guarding the entrance of many Japanese Shinto shrines. They can be found also at Buddhist temples, nobility residences or even private homes.
Koshi - 交趾
Chinese pottery
Ko zara - 小皿
Small dish
Koro - 香炉
Incens Burner
Mura - 村
Village
Mizusosogi - 水注ギ
Water ewer
Nanga= Nanshuga=Bunjinga 南画 南宗画 文人画
Nanga is one of the 2 big groups of Chinese Sansuiga painting style (small mountain and water). The Bunjinga style was developped during Ming dinasty from Ohi.
In Japan Nanga style was introduced from the middle of Edo period.
Ningenkokuho - Living National Cultural Treasure -人間国宝
Highest recognition attributed to an artist known as LNT (Living National Treasure).
Nishiki kiln - 錦窯
Kiln for overglaze painting, generally electric
Okimono - 置物
Okimono is a Japanese term meaning "ornament for display; objet d’art; decorative object" often used to describe ceramic figurines.
Saimitsuga - 細密画
A painting style which consits of very detailled motifs, generally red.
Sakazuki - 盃 or 杯
Sake cup (flat)
Shonzui - 祥瑞
It is one of famous chinese sometsuke style. It first was produced at end of Ming dinasty, 1628 - 1644. This style is used for sakazuki, bowl, and Tokkuri. The color is violet blue.
Shoten - 商店
Shop which had a kiln (generally nishiki kiln) and was selling is own production
Shuhai - 酒杯
Sake cup
Sometsuke - 染付
In general sometsuke means underglaze blue painting.
Tessenbyo - 鉄線描
This is a painting style. Tessen means steel wire, therefore it refers to the way the lines used for underglaze paint are drawn. The lines, made with a paint brush, must be stable, very thin with a very regular shape and have the same color.
This technic is used for the drawing of persons and for boudhism painting.
Toki - 陶器
Faience or half porcelain, it is made also of kaolin clay which once glazed at lower temperature become hard. The color is not so white compared to porcelain but is also glassy and smooth.
Tokkuri - 徳利
Sake bottle
Tokkuri ittsui - 徳利一対
Pair of Sake bottle
Tozama
Name given to the Daimyos who were Lords of domains inherited from their ancestors and not granted by Tokugawa family. The Tozama were not under direct control of the Shogun. But they had to accept the dominance of the Tokugawa family.
Uwaetsuke - 上絵付
This is simply overglaze painting made with Uwaenogu (paint for overglaze) on white pottery and firing at high temperature.
