Japanese Kutani Ware

Kutani porcelains are named after the village within which a kiln was set up in 1655. Goto Sajiro first created kutani ware, which was only in production for less than a hundred years before kutani kilns were shut down suddenly around 1730. The art later re-emerged around the 1800s with new and more effective over-glazing techniques.

There are three main eras of kutani ware production: Ko-Kutani, Saiko Kutani, and Kutani, in sequence. Ko-Kutani, meaning "old Kutani," consisted of only five colors: blue, green, yellow, purple, and red. Saiko Kutani incorporated red and gold design. The final style, which began around the 1860s, was a composite of both the traditional kutani style as well as a newly learned western style. This later style was widely exported, while Ko-Kutani is very rare.

Kutani ware includes a wide variety of products including but not limited to plates, bowls, and tea sets. While the term “kutani” is often used to describe any porcelains that have been decorated with the color scheme characteristic of old kutani porcelains, many of these works were created in the 19th century and are not necessarily genuine kutani marked with the appropriate symbols.

Quick Facts

• Kutani porcelain wares are particularly well known for their use of many colors including green, blue, yellow, purple, and red. Colorful designs practically cover the entirety of the porcelain surface
• The act of making kutani was officially named a traditional craft in 1975. A memorial has even been created for Goto Sajiro around the site of the original kiln in order to celebrate his contribution
• Markings on the bottom of kutani ware can be very difficult to decipher. Many modern-day Japanese are unable to read the characters on these markings. Markings are not at all consistent: Kutani ware stamps might represent title, date, person, or artist