Antique Lamps – Japanese Kutani

You can find early examples of fired earthenware, or, pots, in museums in every corner of
the world, vases from classical Greece, early Chinese ceramics and fired clay pots from Africa. But none as early as those produced by mankind's first potters fromNorthern Japan.

Archeologists'now know that a group of mans earliest ancestors, now designated as the Jomon people,were the first to fire clay pots, 16.500 years ago. At this very early date it
was formally believed that mankind had not developed to the stage of producing pottery. Now with carbon dating technology, this surprising date can be confirmed.  These early wares, of course, fall into the period of the Stone Age, or pre history, with very little know, other than the rare examples, now held as national treasures by the Japanese State.

The red Kutani lamp illustrated is described as -:

A 19th century Japanese red Kutani table lamp, the lamp decorated in the traditional palette of burnt orange and black enamels. The decorative subject, a long tailed exotic bird perched on a flowering branch. The lamp seated on a solid bronze, gold plated stand. Early Meiji, circa 1870 Overall height (including shade) 22"/56cm

Here, we look at one, famous and well known Japanese porcelain, "Kutani". Today we tend to think of Japanese Kutani porcelain as the often, lavishly gilded, iron red enamelled porcelain, frequently with small details in black, or grey. This "Red Kutani" is often seen as vases, bowls and dishes. But we need to turn the picture around and look at Kutani anew. Within the realm of recorded history we first hear of Kutani porcelain in 1655. Kutani is actually the name of a village, the name meaning, Nine  Valleys. The Kutani village was situated in the province
of Kaga, found in the centre of Hondo, the south island ofJapan. 

Throughout the Edo period, 1603-1868, Japan was a feudal society, ruled by wealthy, influential and powerful families. Japan was isolated with doors firmly locked to Western influence. It was Japan for the Japanese and here, specifically, Japanese art for the apanese. During the Edo period, art and culture flourished and Japanese porcelain and pottery certainly fell into the realm of art, with a piece being judged on its artistic and esthetic merits alone.

It is to the feudal ruling Maeda family that we must look for the beginning of Kutani porcelain.  The Maeda family was wealthy and their portfolio included the ownership of a local gold mine. Japanese ceramic history records that a bed of fine white clay was discovered in the
process of mining excavation, high quality potting clay, suitable for the production of porcelain.

Kilns were constructed under the management of Goto Saijiro, a member of the ruling family
and in 1655 the production of pottery tea wares began. By 1657, with the quality of the fine white clay being realized, Lord Maeda Toshiharu, the ruling lord, sent Goto Saijiro south to the then centre of early Japanese porcelain at Arita, already, with a reputation for its beautiful ceramics. Goto became a serious student and studied the famous Arita porcelain techniques.                 

Goto returned to Kutani, bringing with him, experienced potters and craftsmen who established porcelain production in Kutani village. These events, now 350 years old and
like most history, full of twists and turns, none of which can be verified. At this time, it seems that a multi coloured, enamel decorated porcelain was produced, examples of this early porcelain is extremely rare and designated as, Ko Kutani, meaning, old Kutani.

However, it is now believed that some porcelain was brought in from other kilns to be decorated, some blanks were sent away to be decorated and just to totally confuse the story, it is thought that porcelain clay, glaze and even potters were imported from China and Korea. This early or first period of Ko Kutani seems to have lasted to an unknown date in the first half of the 18thcentury.

It wasn't until 1807 that a porcelain kiln was opened again in Kutani, this stimulated other
potters and in a relatively short time, eight other porcelain producing kilns were established at Kutani. The most influential of these was Kutani Shoza and it was his rather loud decorative style that developed into the standard image of Kutani porcelain. In Japan, Shoza style, is usually used, rater than Kutani.

Finally, in about 1830 new kilns were established at Kutani to concentrate on the commercial production of porcelain. Japans 19th century direction was alerted by the Meiji restoration of 1868 which saw the closure of Japans feudal past. The Meiji era denotes the period in Japanese history during the 45-year reign of the Meiji Emperor from 23 October 1868 to 30 July 1912. During this time, Japan began its modernization and rose to world power status. Meiji means ‘Enlightened Rule'.  

Throughout the Meiji period (1868-1912) nearly all Kutani porcelain was exported to the West. Most of the Kutani porcelain we see today is Shoza style export wares, dating from the
early 19th century up until today. Throughout the 19th century Kutani export reached its peak, with exports rising with every year. When Kutani Shoza died in 1883, his company employed more than 300 apprentices. 

A well designed and carefully assembled Kutani antique lamp will be at home in any décor, contemporary, eclectic, or classic. Antique lamps have an inbuilt adaptability to share space with a wide range of interior designs. Interestingly, it's the modern styles lamps which need a modern interior to look comfortable and appropriate, taken out of their contemporary surroundings, they start to look like the proverbial "fish out of water".  The same goes with lamp shades for antique lamps, a modern, rather than a classic shade will compliment an antique lamp, but not usually in the reverse.

The successful outcome of Interior design is based entirely upon the eye of the designer and "the best eye will produce the best result".  As stated, an antique lamp will compliment a
wide range of interiors, to see this statement justified, simply look through a range of quality interior design magazines and pay attention to the lamps!