Michigan museum surveys how Shigaraki ware reshaped Japan’s reputation

Susanne Stephenson, ‘Orange Wave I,’ 1996, terracotta with slip and glaze. Collection of the artist © Susanne Stephenson. Photo by Susanne Stephenson
Susanne Stephenson, ‘Orange Wave I,’ 1996, terracotta with slip and glaze. Collection of the artist © Susanne Stephenson. Photo by Susanne Stephenson
Susanne Stephenson, ‘Orange Wave I,’ 1996, terracotta with slip and glaze. Collection of the artist © Susanne Stephenson. Photo by Susanne Stephenson

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Shigaraki ware originates from one of Japan’s six ancient kilns and is characterized by earthy tones, rough clay surfaces and natural ash glazes. These objects, which began entering American museum collections in the 1960s, have become staples of Japanese art installations across the U.S. Despite this, the story of how Shigaraki ware ceramics catalyzed cultural exchange between the U.S. and Japan and helped reframe Japan as a peaceful, democratic ally has not been told in depth. Clay as Soft Power: Shigaraki Ware in Postwar America and Japan brings this history to the fore while also exploring the influence of Shigaraki ware ceramics on contemporary artists in both countries and its ongoing popularity among today’s collectors. The show will remain on view at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) through May 7.

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Nippon label is alluring to Japanese porcelain buffs

A Nippon porcelain covered urn, 38in tall, achieved $42,000 plus the buyer’s premium in September 2020 against an estimate of $400-$600. Image courtesy of Susanin’s Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
A Nippon porcelain covered urn, 38in tall, achieved $42,000 plus the buyer’s premium in September 2020 against an estimate of $400-$600. Image courtesy of Susanin’s Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
A Nippon porcelain covered urn, 38in tall, achieved $42,000 plus the buyer’s premium in September 2020. Image courtesy of Susanin’s Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — Vintage porcelain has always been collectible. Some pieces can cost as much as a house, while others have more reasonable prices. Japanese culture has a rich porcelain-making tradition, driven in part by an abundance of good clay. Porcelain has been made throughout the country for centuries, and archeologists have documented at least six kilns designed for firing ceramics that date back to ancient times.

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Minneapolis is site of first Kamoda Shoji retrospective outside Japan

Kamoda Shoji, Jar, 1971. Stoneware with red and green painted glazes. 4 ½ in by 6 ½ in. Photo credit: Collection of Joan B. Mirviss and Robert J. Levine
Kamoda Shoji, Jar, 1971. Stoneware with red and green painted glazes. 4 ½ in by 6 ½ in. Photo credit: Collection of Joan B. Mirviss and Robert J. Levine
Kamoda Shoji, Jar, 1971. Stoneware with red and green painted glazes. 4 ½ in by 6 ½ in. Photo credit: Collection of Joan B. Mirviss and Robert J. Levine

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Minneapolis Institute of Art is now hosting an exhibition of works by the Japanese ceramist Kamoda Shoji, who, despite his fame in Japan for significant contributions to contemporary ceramics, has not received the attention he deserves outside of his native country, in part because of his untimely death at the age of 49 in 1983. Continue reading

Briggs offers Ivo Ispani Asian art estate collection, June 18

Fine Chinese rosewood and cloisonne bench, estimated at $6,000-$10,000
Fine Chinese rosewood and cloisonne bench, estimated at $6,000-$10,000
Fine Chinese rosewood and cloisonne bench, estimated at $6,000-$10,000

GARNET VALLEY, Pa. – Briggs Auction is pleased and proud to offer The Ivo Ispani Estate Collection for auction on June 18. This exciting collection includes a vast assortment of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean ceramics, bronzes, works of art, decorative arts, antique furnishings, and more. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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