Nabeshimaware hand painting Tortoise Shell Pattern Teapot (170ml)

A tortoise shell pattern teapot has from Nabeshima Kosengama kiln. It is a teapot for Chinese and Taiwanese tea, made of Nabeshima ware, said to be the pinnacle of colored porcelain. The painting is hand-painted by a skilled craftsman, making it a very luxurious teapot.

Nabeshima ware is porcelain produced in Imari City, Saga Prefecture, and is the first colored porcelain in Japan. Its origins date back to the Edo period(1603-1868).This was a feudal kiln of the Hizen Saga Domain. Nabeshima ware was given as gifts to the Tokugawa Shogunate and feudal lords, and was not generally available, so it is called "Lord's pottery."

Although the feudal kilns were abolished after the Meiji era, the descendants of those who produced Nabeshima ware continue to make porcelain in the area today. Nabeshima Kosengama, which makes this teapot, is one such family kiln.

(Overview of Nabeshima Kosengama)

This Nabeshima ware kiln was founded in 1963. The founders, the Kawasoe family, were craftsmen who studied ornaments and glazes during the Edo period, and were involved in porcelain production at the Nabeshima feudal kiln, inheriting traditional porcelain techniques for over 300 years.

In 2016, they changed the name of Kosengama to Nabeshima Kosengama, and, with the vision of "establishing the Nabeshima ware culture," are working to pass on the techniques and culture that they have inherited to the future. This pottery specializes in Iro Nabeshima and Nabeshima celadon.

Porcelain is made by applying a transparent glaze to clay made from crushed porcelain stone and then firing it. The glaze gets glass during firing, increases the strength of the vessel and improves its water resistance. The picture that is painted before glaze is called  underglaze, and the picture that is painted after glaze is called  overglaze.

The patterns on Nabeshima ware, known as colored Nabeshima, are made up of four colors: blue underglaze, red, green, and yellow. The blue is an underglaze painted before the glazing, and the red, green, and yellow are overglaze. After the overglaze is painted, the teapot is fired again to allow the paint to set on the surface.

The traditional patterns of Nabeshima ware are characterized by their high level of design. While there are many plant motifs, there are also many innovative geometric patterns. It's like looking at modern graphic art, and gives a glimpse of the avant-garde nature of Nabeshima ware from 200 to 300 years ago.

The inside of the tortoise shell is decorated with small tortoise shell patterns and plants. It is a delicate hand painting technique. Hand  painting is very time-consuming, but it has a soft and elegant atmosphere. When you touch the paint, you will notice slight friction and raised surface. Hand painting has a unique texture and feels good to the touch.

The tortoise shell pattern represents longevity and good health, as the turtle's hard shell protects the body. The colorful tortoise shell pattern, which is often drawn on Nabeshima ware, has both a pop art-like cheerfulness and a nostalgia for classical art. It is a design with universal artistic value that is not limited by time.

The inside of the teapot is also glazed, so it is less likely to absorb the aroma of the tea leaves. You can brew tea with different aromas, such as rock tea, oolong tea, white tea, and black tea.

Nabeshima ware, the first porcelain in Japan, was developed in the late 1600s based on porcelain technology from China and the Korean peninsula. This teapot is a fusion of Japanese porcelain and Chinese tea culture over the course of more than 300 years.

Kiln: Nabeshima Kosengama (Saga)

Painting: Hand painting

Firing: Gas kiln

Forming: Plaster molding

Type: Porcelain 

Size: Total length 12cm (including handle and opening), body diameter 8cm, height 6.5cm

Capacity: 170ml when full, 130ml when in use

Weight: Approx. 130g (teapot only)

Packaging: Paulownia wood box (with silk string)

Note: Because it is hand painted, each piece may have slight differences in the design.

To ensure that the lid fits snugly onto the body of the teapot, part of the inside of the lid is left unglazed. The unglazed area is slightly brownish, but this coloring comes from the small amount of iron contained in the porcelain clay.

Please avoid washing in a dishwasher. If it is exposed to high pressure water for a long time, the painting may peel off. If you rub the surface of the teapot with a hard sponge or metal, the painting will peel off, so please wash it with a soft sponge.

*Nabeshima ware

Nabeshima ware is porcelain produced in Imari City, Saga Prefecture. Nabeshima ware is painted using only four colors: blue, red, green, and yellow. The colors are refined and in harmony with each other. The painting has an elegant atmosphere. The designs are free from influences from China and Korea, and fully express Japan's unique taste in painting.

The origin of Nabeshima ware can be traced back to the feudal kiln, which was built by order of Lord Nabeshima, feudal lord of Hizen Saga. The porcelain made at the feudal kiln was given as gifts to the Shogun and feudal lord families, and was therefore valuable and not available to the general public. The feudal kiln was originally located in Iwayagawachi, Arita, and was later moved to Okawachi mountain in Imari. Overglaze porcelain was the most advanced technique at the time, and to prevent the technique from leaking out, a barrier was set up at the entrance to Okawachi mountain, restricting people's access.

Arita ware is the porcelain produced by potters who remained in Arita even after the feudal kiln was relocated. Nabeshima ware and Arita ware have the same origin and are like brothers. Nabeshima ware and Arita ware were exported through the port of Imari from the latter half of the 17th century onwards, and were also called Imari ware after the name of the port.