Nabeshima ware

Nabeshima ware (鍋島焼, Nabeshima-yaki) is a type of Japanese pottery, specifically an unusually high-quality porcelain.

The technique also differs from that of most Japanese porcelain, with the outlines of the pattern done in underglaze blue before the overglaze "enamelled" final decoration.

[3] It was discontinued in 1871 with the abolition of the feudal domains, but the technique was revived as a modern craft by the Imaizumi Imaemon family, descendants of the master lineage, and has continued to the 21st century.

This was recognized even from the early Edo Period, as surviving official documents often complained that the Nabeshima style "has become monotonous" and encouraging the adoption of products from other kilns with more innovative designs.

However, the 10th Imaemon built a climbing kiln himself and established an integrated production system in his own workshop, from shaping, underglaze and final firing to overglaze.

He was also recognized as Living National Treasure, and developed a technique called "usuzumi" (light ink) that uses uranium oxide as a coloring agent.

The earliest document that introduces Nabeshima ware to the western world is said to be Japan and China subtitled Their History Arts and Literature (1901) by Francis Brinkley.

The main products of Nabeshima ware were circular plates, with standardized diameters, typically in sets of five or ten pieces with the same design.

In addition to the colored painting known as "Iro-Nabeshima," occasionally "blue-and-white" designs using cobalt blue, celadon or a rusty glaze are known to exist.

"Iro-Nabeshima" generally uses only the three colors red, yellow, and green, and occasionally black and purple are used, but as a rule, gold leaf, as seen in Imari, is not used.