伊万里・有田焼
Imari-Arita Ware
陶磁器
佐賀県
Saga
16世紀末の豊臣秀吉による朝鮮出兵に参加していた佐賀藩主が、朝鮮から連れ帰った陶工の李参平によって、有田泉山に磁器の原料である陶石が発見されたのが伊万里・有田焼の始まりです。
このとき焼かれたものが、日本で最初の磁器であると言われています。
現在、伊万里・有田焼と呼ばれている磁器は、当時伊万里港を積み出し港としたため、伊万里焼とも呼ばれました。青一色で絵付けをした染付から、色鮮やかな上絵付けをしたものまで、色々な表現があります。その様式には古伊万里、柿右衛門、金襴手、鍋島等があり、とりわけ柿右衛門様式や、古伊万里様式の磁器は、その美しさでヨーロッパの人々を魅了しました。伊万里・有田焼は、江戸時代にオランダ商館を通じて大量に輸出されました。
The origins of Imari-Arita ware date back to the end of the 16th century when the Saga clan, which had been involved in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaigns in Korea, brought back the potter, Li Sanpei who discovered porcelain stone at Mount Arita Izumi, in northern Kyushu. The porcelain that was subsequently made there was the first to be produced anywhere in Japan and was originally called Imari ware, simply because it was shipped through the port of Imari.There are a number of different qualities ranging from a simple blue and white ware to pieces over-glazed with brilliant colors. Out of the number of styles including Koimari, Kakiemon, Kinrande and Nabesima, it was the beauty of the Koimari and Kakiemon porcelains which really appealed to people in Europe. In fact, during the Edo period (1600-1868), large quantities of Imari-Arita ware was exported through the trading facilities retained exclusively by the Dutch in Japan.Today as in the past, many fine pieces of Japanese and Western tableware are being produced along side some decorative items. Inevitably, however, it is the brilliance of the enamels and the beautiful white surfaces as well as its practicality, which continue to characterize Japan's most famous porcelain. There are now 159 firms employing 2,886 people among whom there are 72 government recognized Master Craftsmen maintaining the heritage of this ware.