Provenance

34 Piece Meiji Era, Kutani, Aochibu Porcelain

Commissioned for A. J. Slagter Jr. in Japan in 1910.

This beautiful set of Aochibu patterned, Japanese, Kutani porcelain has been in the
same family for over 100 years.

Arthur John Slagter (see photo) worked with Royal Dutch Shell Oil in Japan after
its formation in 1907. He helped develop the first oil refinery in Japan. Slagter
stayed with his family from 1908 until 1914 in Kyushu, Japan. Upon his return he
brought this set of porcelain back with him. Slagters, son AJ Jr, went on to form
Slagter Producing Company, a successful independent oil company which
flourished into the 1970s and developed uranium mines in Utah in the 1950s.

Several of the pieces he purchased were already made and the remainder were
commissioned by him as is evidenced by his initials on the bottom of the six plates
and teapot. The two large covered bowls, the two small covered bowls and the
covered teacup with the Saiji (micro calligraphy) inside are all signed Kutani
Bunzan while the calligraphy inside is signed Seizan. The ten teacups are all
signed Dai Nippon (Great Japan) and Kutani Zo (Kutani made).

I do not want to break up this set. I hope you agree. It would be wonderful to pass
it on in its complete form to someone who can recognize and appreciate its artistic
quality as well as its historical value or just someone who would like to own a
piece of the history of Japanese art; and have your cake and eat it too, off of
amazing beauty.

Kutani
The history of Kutani pottery traces back to the beginning of the Edo period
(1655). The early stage progressed under the support of the Daishoji clan. After the
discovery of the potters clay at a mine near Kutani village, a potter was sent to
Arita (Imari) district to master ceramics. He brought his techniques back to Kutani,
but production suddenly ended around 1700. The cause of the decline is still
unknown.
About eighty years later the Kasugayama kiln opened at Kanazawa under the
control of the Kaga Clan. A lot of kilns were built and each developed their own
special style. In the Meiji period (1868-1912), Shoza Kutani developed his unique
style, and the works of his apprentices were exported as highly valued examples of
Industrial Arts of Kutani.

Now there are 49 government recognized Master Craftsmen and 2 Living National
Treasures in Kutani.

End of Meiji-TaishoEnd of Meiji may be considered from 1900 to 1912, Taisho

period covers 1913 - 1926.

Aochibu
The pattern is called Aochibu. Ao means blue color, chibu means dot in
English. Aochibu has three colors of dots - blue, white and gold. Blue is the most
popular. Aochibu was developed around 1910 in Kutani district. The dots are
painted by hand, one by one. Some works have a swirly pattern. High skills are
required to paint each unique dot size, color and shape. Currently the Kingyoku
family has developed the skills to the highest level. Second generation Kingyoku
Nakata has become the best potter in Aochibu works.

The Kutani Ino seihou Co. ltd. in Japan, after seeing these pieces said they are
equal to, if not better than, the work of Kingyoku Nakata. Kingyoku Nakata,
named a living treasure in Japan. He is one of the few artists still practicing the
art of Aochibu. He is a master craftsman recognized by the Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry of Japan and the recipient of many prizes.
This set is an example of some of the earliest Aochibu pattern as it was just
being developed when Slagter purchased the porcelain in 1909.

Bunzan
Several pieces are signed Bunzan. There is not any information available as to
whether Bunzan is an artists name or the kiln name. Many early Kutani artists went
on to other practices or passed early so they did not become known artists. Ms.
Seito Tamura, the great, great granddaughter of the originator of Saiji, Oda Seizan
believes Bunzan to designate a kiln while a western Kutani expert, John Wocher
believes Bunzan to designate an artist. If anyone has more information about
Bunzan I would be very interested.

Saiji
Saiji is the art of microcalligraphy in Japan. The art of brush-writing micro
calligraphy on ceramic ware has been developed as a feature unique to Kutani
ware-Japanese traditional porcelain known for its refined, colorful designs. This
art, which requires great skill and intense practice, has been passed down over a
century from its founder, Seizan Oda, to his descendants, Kinsei Tamura, Keisei
Tamura and Ms. Seito Tamura. It was in the early Meiji period (late 19th century)
in the village of Kutani that the brush-writing of Chinese classical poems inside tea
cups and sake cups began, influenced by skillful painters and their sophisticated
paintings of that time.
The covered teacup has a poem written inside it from The Chronicle of the Three
Kingdoms. The language inside the covered cups is Chinese poetry of the fights
of the red wall. The cup with the cover is a very classic style for Japanese tea.
The micro calligraphy inside the cup is signed "Seizan", who was the originator of
Saiji in Japan. Ms. Seito Tamura in Japan who is the great, great grand daughter of
Oda Seizan has confirmed this is his work (see letter from Seito Tamura in photos)
and she continues the tradition of "saiji" in her own work. She also agrees with the
Ino Seihou Co. that this is exceptionally superb work and was the begining of saiji
as well as the beginning of the style "Aochibu".
The early signature from a period when he was developing his style is atypical of
Seizans later signatures which are more commonly recognized.

She also confirms the date of making as Meiji period and that her great, great
grandfather was about 40 years old when he did this work. Seizan was named a
"national treasure" by the Japanese ministry.

The Set
The set consists of 34 pieces in all. Six (6), 8.25 plates.
Ten (10), 5.5" tea saucers. Five (5), 2.5" tall, 3" wide, teacups with paintings of
blossoms in each. Five (5), 2.5" tall, 3" wide, teacups with no painting inside. One
(1), 7 tall teapot. Two (2), 7 wide, 4" tall, covered bowls. Two (2), 2.75" tall, 4"
wide, small covered rice bowls. One (1), 3.5" tall, 3.25" wide, covered, Japanese
style teacup with Saiji by Oda Seizan inside. One (1), 4.5", creamer. One (1), 4.25"
tall, 4.5" wide,sugar bowl. Five (5) original wooden stands for cups and saucers.
Six (6) original wooden stands for plates.

Damage
All the pieces are in perfect condition. No scratches, chips or cracks with these few
exceptions.

One of the plates has a hairline crack on the bottom of the plate near the
imperfection in the porcelain (see photo). It does not extend to or is it visible on the
top of the plate.

Three of the ten saucers have small chips on the bottom edge (see photos).

Broken and roughly repaired lid on one of the large covered bowls (see photos).
Slightly visible from above. Easily repaired Im told.

Summary
This is one of the earliest examples of the beautiful Aochibu pattern developed
over 100 years ago by Kutani artists and still used by a few artists today such as
Kingyoku Nakata named a living treasure in Japan. The Aochibu pattern was
developed in Kutani around the time my great grand father was in Japan, 1908.

It has been in the same family for over 100 years as I am the 70 year old great
grandson of Arthur John Slagter who purchased the pieces in Japan more than 100
years ago.

Everyone who has seen these pieces, Kutani Ino seihou Co. ltd. in Japan, two
western Kutani experts John Wocher and Georges Bouvier, Seito Tamura the great,
great granddaughter of Oda Seizan (the founder of the art of Saiji), and several
museums have all agreed very beautiful and the pieces are very good and of
very high quality. They have been compared to the work of Kingyoku
Nakata, they are equal to, if not better than, the work of Kingyoku Nakata.

They all agree on the time period, the end of the Meiji era, for the pieces and the
authenticity of the Oda Seizan, Saiji covered teacup.

Only one of the pieces is severely damaged. It is a lid on one of the large bowls. It
was cracked in half. A clean break and it has been crudely repaired at some time
over the past 100 years (see photos).

Three others have a very small chip on the underside of the lip and one has a
hairline crack (see photos). I am told by John Wocher that these last four pieces
have immaterial damage.

The other 29 pieces are in perfect condition with no chips, scratches, marks or
cracks.
I have been told it would be more valuable to break the set up in order to sell it. I
do not want to break up this set. I hope you agree. It would be wonderful to pass it
on in its complete form to someone who can recognize and appreciate its artistic
quality as well as its historical value or just someone who would like to own a
piece of beautiful, historical, Japanese art; and have your cake and eat it too, off of
amazing beauty.

It is rare to find this early of an example of the Aochibu style as well as difficult to
find an example of some of the earliest Saiji from the originator of the art form,
Oda Seizan. He was around 40 years old when he wrote the poetry inside the
covered teacup. Just about the time they say he was perfecting his art form.

If you search the internet for similar pieces you wont find many, if any, other
examples of this first Aochibu patterned Kutani. You will find many new pieces,
most of which are no comparison to the beauty and craftsmanship of these works
of art, and some from the Taisho period but rarely from the end of the Meiji period
because this was when the style was first developed around 1910.

I have many more photos for those who are interested.

Contact:
Philip Slagter
philipslagter9@gmail.com
(406) 381-3568 USA