Japanese vases of the traditional blue and white (Sometsuke) Imari (Arita) ware ceramic

Imari (Arita) ware is the oldest porcelain in Japan. Also, the ceramic has the oldest history of the Sometsuke technique in the country. Sometsuke is the way to paint on a white porcelain with zaffer pigment.

It was invented in China and introduced to Japan by the Korean potter who created Imari-yaki in the 17th century.

Above all, the contrast of the indigo blue and white is the best appeal of the Sometsuke porcelain. And the indigo has subtle variations of the depth.

The craftsman Fujii Kinsai draws the patterns delicate yet bold for the Sometsuke porcelains. Furthermore, the shapes of the vases are really various. I would like you to choose his blue and white Imari vases while having the fun of the harmony between the patterns and the shapes.

Imari-yaki (Arita-yaki) crartman Fujii Kinsai

Fujii Kinsai was born in 1976 at Arita (Saga Prefecture) the home of the Japanese porcelain. The character of the locality made him aim to be the traditional Imari potter.

Then he studied under the Living National Treasure Inoue Manji. Kinsai later also learned from the potters of the best. While He acquired the traditional techniques of making Imari (Arita) ware, he tried to take a modern style into his works.

He won the many prizes of ceramic art exhibition when he was about twenty. Today, he holds the exhibitions around the country. His master Inoue Manji highly appreciates his techniques including the original coloring with platinum and gold.