[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.
[Arita Ware]
A porcelain made in Arita area in Saga prefecture.
In the beginning of 17 century, a Korean potters Sanpei Li discovered high quality porcelain stones in Izumiyama then cerated the first porcelain ware in Japan. Arita had been the only porcelain producing area in Japan until the end of Edo period.
Because Arita ware had been shipped from Imari Port at that time, it is also called as “Imari ware”. During the late 17th and the late 18th century, Arita ware had been exported to Europe and other countries.
It has delicate and luxury patterns painted with navy/red/yellow/gold colors on beautiful white porcelain. Because Arita ware has a high durability and it is thin like a grass, it is most suitable for tablewares.
It is designated as the Traditional Japan Crafts by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in 1977.