Sakaida Kakiemon
Encyclopedia
Sakaida Kakiemon or Sakaida Kizaemon (1615— 1653) was a Japanese potter who invented the style known after him as Kakiemon
. He worked in association with Higashijima Tokue, and created the first enamelled porcelain in Japan
. The tradition is continued to this day with descendants of Sakaida Kakiemon, currently Sakaida Shibunosuke, the 12th descendant of Kakiemon.
Sakaida Kakiemon started his porcelain business following the fall of the Ming dynasty
in China and the succeeding disruption of traditional Chinese porcelain
exports to Europe
. Sakaida Kakiemon is said to have learned the enamel porcelain technique from a Chinese artisan in Nagasaki
in 1643. He was the first in Japan to practice overglaze enameling (applying enamel on top of the glazing), a technique developed in Kangxi China. He also refined the method for producing a translucent white glaze.
The first pieces were produced in 1643, with Chinese pigments. They are also called ko-Imari, as they were shipped to Europe through the harbour of Imari. Kakiemon ware was extensively exported to Europe by the Dutch
, until the Chinese industry was reestablished with the stabilization of the Qing dynasty
, and the Dutch then shifted their orders to China, which started to manufacture imitations of the Japanese ware, known as "Chinese Imari".
Sakaida Kakiemon's work is said to have been the probable inspiration for Chantilly
and Meissen
porcelains.
The Kakiemon productions almost disappeared by the end of the 18th century, but were revived in the 20th century by his descendants. The most important European collections are in Hampton Court in London
, and in the Zwinger
in Dresden
.
Kakiemon
Kakiemon wares were produced at the factories of Arita, Saga Prefecture, Japan from the mid-17th century, with much in common with the Chinese "Famille Verte" style...
. He worked in association with Higashijima Tokue, and created the first enamelled porcelain in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The tradition is continued to this day with descendants of Sakaida Kakiemon, currently Sakaida Shibunosuke, the 12th descendant of Kakiemon.
Sakaida Kakiemon started his porcelain business following the fall of the Ming dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
in China and the succeeding disruption of traditional Chinese porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
exports to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Sakaida Kakiemon is said to have learned the enamel porcelain technique from a Chinese artisan in Nagasaki
Nagasaki
is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. Nagasaki was founded by the Portuguese in the second half of the 16th century on the site of a small fishing village, formerly part of Nishisonogi District...
in 1643. He was the first in Japan to practice overglaze enameling (applying enamel on top of the glazing), a technique developed in Kangxi China. He also refined the method for producing a translucent white glaze.
The first pieces were produced in 1643, with Chinese pigments. They are also called ko-Imari, as they were shipped to Europe through the harbour of Imari. Kakiemon ware was extensively exported to Europe by the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, until the Chinese industry was reestablished with the stabilization of the Qing dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, and the Dutch then shifted their orders to China, which started to manufacture imitations of the Japanese ware, known as "Chinese Imari".
Sakaida Kakiemon's work is said to have been the probable inspiration for Chantilly
Chantilly porcelain
Chantilly porcelain is French soft-paste porcelain produced between 1730 and 1800 by the manufactory of Chantilly in Oise, France.-Foundation:...
and Meissen
Meissen porcelain
Meissen porcelain or Meissen china is the first European hard-paste porcelain that was developed from 1708 by Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus. After his death that October, Johann Friedrich Böttger, continued his work and brought porcelain to the market...
porcelains.
The Kakiemon productions almost disappeared by the end of the 18th century, but were revived in the 20th century by his descendants. The most important European collections are in Hampton Court in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and in the Zwinger
Zwinger
The Zwinger is a palace in Dresden, eastern Germany, built in Baroque style. It served as the orangery, exhibition gallery and festival arena of the Dresden Court....
in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
.