Potter: Gensho Ichino
Approximate size: W 4.3″ by H 4.5″ or 11.0 by 11.0 by 11.4 cm
This is a koro or incense burner by Tamba potter Gensho Ichino (1958-). Gensho graduated from Saga University Ceramics Course in 1979. This item has been created on a wheel and was then further modelled by hand to the final form. The foot features carved surfaces and the lid has openwork. From its thrown surface to the carved foot this koro shows great skill in manipulation of clay. The koudai shows near picture perfect carving. This koro is handmade and is shaped or carved so thin it is hardly believable its made from clay! It makes the mind wonder just how Gensho Ichino pulled this off.
Gencho Ichino has been a Regular member of Japan Crafts Association and has been teaching a pottery class at NHK Kobe Cultural Center, Rokkodo Labor Citizen Center and Suma Community Center for Culture Tsukaguchi.
He won the Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition Nihon Keizai Shimbun Award (1998) and later Hyogo Craft Art Exhibition Sun Television Award called the Kobe Shimbun Award.
The term Tamba Yaki refers to ceramics made in the village of Tachikui, Hyogo. This area has been involved in the ceramics trade for over eight centuries. There are few places in Japan that have such a consistent art tradition. Tamba Yaki is one of the six ancient Japanese pottery styles, and is certainly one of the oldest. That being said, the style has changed quite a bit over the years. Tamba ware like Bizen ware it relies on a natural glaze occurring by chance in a kiln.
The emergence of the Japan Arts and Crafts movement in the early 20th century enhanced the popularity of these rustically appealing pieces and helped Tamba yaki to achieve the nationwide recognition it enjoys today. The appeal of Tamba yaki lies in the beauty of its natural glaze which reflects the surroundings in which it is made, and the refinement of form, born through years of experience and experimentation. The use of various names to describe this simple, yet tasteful pottery may cause some confusion, being alternatively referred to as Tamba, Tamba or Tamba-Tachikui yaki.
Momoyama era pieces feature a greenish glaze. This was actually the result of a happy accident. These examples of Tamba Yaki were fired in anagama cave kilns and these ovens left certain deposits in the glass. While this may have been thought of as a by-product of the firing process at the time, these types of firing effects have definitely increased the collectible nature of Tamba pieces.
Right at the end of Momoyama period (1568 to 1600), potters invented a type of kiln that was built on a slope called noborigama kiln. These noborigama kilns allowed potters to produce a wide new variety of ceramics. By the early Edo years, the area started to export a good deal of pottery for feudal lords. Guidance from Enshu Kobori meant that the tea ceremony was becoming increasingly important and local potters were taking on record numbers of orders. As the Edo period came to a close many new techniques were introduced.
This incense burner is brand new and has not been used. It comes with the original quality paulownia tomobako with kiln stamp & calligraphy on the lid and a dedicated tomonuno (tea cloth), with his seal.
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