Part of the second generation of the Kogei revival in the mid 20th century, Ueda Tsuneji (1914-1987) studied under the Mingei master Kawai Kanjiro, while also working alongside Tomimoto Kenkichi...
Part of the second generation of the Kogei revival in the mid 20th century, Ueda Tsuneji (1914-1987) studied under the Mingei master Kawai Kanjiro, while also working alongside Tomimoto Kenkichi and Hamada Shoji as part of the Japan Kogei Association. He established the Kyoto Folk Craft Museum and has exhibited in illustrious institutions across Japan, such as Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi in Ginza, Tokyo, and more.
The marbling pattern “neriage” in this bowl is finely executed. The color is reflects traditional Neriage glazes. This glaze style was used extensively in the Cizhou kilns during the taste-making Tang Dynasty, as evidenced by archaeological excavations of 11th century funeral and tomb sites. The technology was exported to Japan, and revived in the mid-20th century by the Japanese folk-craft movement. To the side of this bowl, Ueda improvises on the neriage tessellation by applying a star like illustration, adding balance to the composition of the bowl’s surface, demonstrating Ueda’s modern sensibilities despite his commitment to Kogei traditional forms.