Shoji Hamada

Shoji Hamada was an influential potter of the 20th century. He traveled the world in order to find out more about ceramics and pottery. This is a square vase with a kaki glaze. He also won the honorary Doctor of Art degree from Royal College of Art in London.

Shoji Hamada

Shoji Hamada was a Japanese potter born in Kawasaki Japan in the late 1800s. He became a potter after seeing the works of Bernard Leach, and the two became good friends. He established a workshop in Mashiko, and only decided to use locally sourced materials when making his crafts. The paint brushes he used was made from him with the use of dog hairs and bamboos and he created his own glazes to use. He opened up his own museum in his own house and provided housing for visiting potters who were abroad. Pictured above his vase called "A Stoneware Flower Vase". It was picked  for this blog post for it's color and simplicity. When i saw this vase it automatically gave me peace and made me think of gardens and flowers and pure bliss. The detailed but simple flower makes me feel reserved and the entire pot looked as if it was effortlessly done. The price of the vase is currently unknown. 

Shoji Hamada

Shoji Hamada was a Japanese potter.  He was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1894.  Hamada was a very important member of the Mingei folk art movement.  The Mingei folk art movement was developed in the late 1920s and 1930s, the founder was Yanagi Soetsu.  Hamada was one of the most influential potters during is time.  He had graduated from Tokyo Technical College and after graduating enrolled at Kyoto Ceramics Research.  During his years as a potter, he collaborated with Bernard Leach.  When working with Bernard Leach he built a kiln at St.Ives in England.  Hamada would travel with Leach in the United States to give different demonstrations and workshops on ceramics.  Hamada's work was largely influenced by English medieval potter, Okinawan stoneware, and Korean pottery.  Throughout his lifetime Hamada received

 the Tochigi Prefecture Culture Award and Minister of Education Award for Art and he was later designated a Living National Treasure in 1955.

I chose this piece because I really liked the shape of the bowl.  I like how it is smaller at the bottom and the started to get larger.  I also like the design and the colors that are used.

Shoji Hamada

This ceramic piece was created by Shoji Hamada. Hamada was born in 1894 and grew up to be a Japanese potter. This piece was known as "Teapot".  "Teapot" was made in 1950 out of reduced stoneware. Most of his work was vases or plates, which is why I chose this piece. I enjoy the shape of the teapot because it makes it look as if it was an ancient teapot. Most teapots now a days are made out of some time of metal and more round than this. I enjoy the glaze he used because it allowed the gold color to stand out against the black. 

shoji Hamada blog

Shoji Hamada was a Japanese potter who had a significant influence on studio pottery in the 20^thcentury. At one point, Shoji worked with Bernard Leach (who we have previously researched). Shoji built his own pottery and committed himself to using only locally sourced materials, not only in the clay he used, but also the glazes he created and the brushes he manufactured himself from dog hair and bamboo. I have chosen this vase made by Shoji because I thought it was very unique. I really enjoy the texture the vase has with the effects of the glaze. I also really enjoy the color and I have bought a glaze very similar to it! This vase looks like it was made by throwing different sections on the wheel and then putting it all together. 

Shoji Hamada Blog #3

Shoji Hamada was a Japanese potter. He was an important part of the mingei folk- art movement. He  was friends with Bernard Leach, the last potter we blogged about. Shoji once said, "Even a bad pot has some use, but with a bad painting there is nothing you can do with it except throw it away." My mom will definitely find some use with my pots I am making in this class.  The pot that I chose is actually considered a bottle. It has tenmoku, khaki, and nuka glaze. What I found most interesting is that the design on the bottle is actually a finger swipe. I might try this type of design on my next pot.

Shoji Hamada blog 3

Shoji Hamada was born in Tokyo in the late 19th century and graduated from Tokyo Industrial College where he studied ceramics. Hamada was so fascinated by one of Bernard Leach's exhibitions in Tokyo that he wrote to him and soon after the two became close acquaintances. Hamada tagged along with Leach back to St. Ives where he spent three years working with him and after, returned to Japan where he established his workshop in Mashiko which became known as a world-renowned pottery center. In 1955 the Japanese government deemed him a "living national treasure.

I chose this piece because I found the design incredibly unique and like how the sides have a rectangular-like shape and taper up to the rim where the shape becomes polygonic.