Kyushu Ceramic Museum
Kyushu Ceramic Museum is located in Arita, the birthplace of Japanese porcelain. The museum is engaged in the collection and exhibition of ceramics from all over Kyushu, including Arita and Karatsu ware. In the exhibition rooms, visitors can enjoy a broad range of ceramic collections from locations throughout Kyushu - from old ceramics to works by contemporary Kyushu ceramic artists. The permanent exhibition, entitled History of Arita Ware, introduces Arita ware's turbulent history in narrative form to provide a better understanding of this unique ceramic.
Main works
Mr. and Mrs. Shibata Collection (Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan)
Mr. and Mrs. Shibata Collection features a collection of Arita ware donated to the museum by Akihiko and Yuko Shibata over a period of 15 years starting in 1990. The collection is displayed in chronological order starting with the earliest ones made in the 1610s. Representative works from each period in the history of Arita ware are on display, and visitors can see how the style changed as the method of making it evolved throughout the Edo period (1603-1868). Due to the importance of systematically collecting Arita ware, the Collection has been listed as a registered tangible cultural property of Japan. This exhibition also introduces how Arita ware was used in daily life during the Edo period through representation of various forms of historical dining recreated with selected wares from the Collection. Approximately 1,000 items from a total of 10,311 objects are on display, and they are replaced once a year.
Kyushu Ceramic Museum
Kanbara Collection (Owned by Arita Town)
The Kanbara Collection was a gift donated to the town of Arita by the late Kanbara Hakaru (1896-1987), who was born in Arita and an honorary citizen of Arita Town.
The collection consists of porcelain produced in Arita and exported to Europe about 300 years ago. Mr. Kanbara brought these items back to Japan, their country of origin. One section consists of Chinese and European objects which were modelled after Arita ware. During the Edo period, Arita porcelain was shipped throughout the entire country from the Port of Imari, and thus the name of Imari was associated with these products. Such porcelain is also called “Ko-Imari” in the present day. (“Ko” means old in Japanese.) Among the various styles of exported Ko-Imari, the type of decorative porcelains featuring deep blue cobalt underglaze over which red and gold enamels are painted, a style called “Kinrande,” is most striking. Some of the pieces were mounted with gold ornamentation in Europe to be used as chandeliers and lamps. The collection includes a seasoning set which bears different letters on the porcelain body indicating the contents, for example “O” for oil and “A” for azijin (meaning “vinegar” in Dutch) as well as a dish with the VOC monogram of the Dutch East India Company. This magnificent collection was deposited by Arita Town at the opening of the Kyushu Ceramic Museum and is on permanent display.
Kyushu Ceramic Museum
Other works
- ①Large lobed dish with landscape design in underglaze cobalt blue (Important Cultural Property)
- ②Large tripod dish with heron design in underglaze cobalt blue (Important Cultural Property)
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③Decagonal dish with Chinese lion and peony design in overglaze polychrome
enamels (Important Cultural Property of Saga Prefecture) -
④Dish with hare, moon, and blown ink design in underglaze cobalt blue
(Mr. and Mrs. Shibata Collection) - ⑤Octagonal dish with a design of the story of Shiba Onko (Sima Qian) in overglaze polychrome enamels (Mr. and Mrs. Shibata Collection)
- ⑥Chrysanthemum flower-shaped bowl with chrysanthemum flower, stylized flower, rhombic flower pattern, and cloud design in overglaze polychrome enamels (Mr. and Mrs. Shibata Collection)
- ⑦Jar with bush clover design in underglaze iron brown, Egaratsu style
- ⑧Irregular-shaped dish with horses design in overglaze polychrome enamels (Hakuu Collection) (Important Cultural Property of Saga Prefecture)
