Japanese ceramic ware, late Momoyama to early Edo period (c. 1596–1624)
Origin
Oribe ware takes its name from the tea master Furuta Oribe (1544–1615), a pupil of Sen no Rikyu (1522–1591). After serving as a soldier, Furuta was appointed daimyo and placed in charge of Fushimi Castle in Kyoto. Following Rikyu's death in 1591, Furuta Oribe became Japan's foremost tea master, profoundly influencing the tea ceremony and its related arts, including teahouse architecture, tea-garden design, and flower arrangement. His aesthetic sensibility is said to have guided the potters of the Bizen kilns in the Seto region, leading to the creation of the distinctive style now known as Oribe ware.
Characteristics and Forms
Oribe ware embodies Furuta Oribe's taste for rustic simplicity combined with striking originality. While some utensils were made in traditional ceramic forms, others were intentionally distorted, their asymmetry and imbalance expressing a new aesthetic ideal. Many pieces were shaped by hand or mould rather than on the potter's wheel. Some bowls were so deformed that they were difficult to use. Even whisking tea could become difficult. This dramatic departure from the refined, monochrome Raku wares of the time marked a significant evolution in Japanese ceramic design.
Glaze and Decoration
Oribe ware is best known for its freely applied glazes and bold color contrasts. The characteristic blue-green copper glaze (often called "vitriol green") has a lustrous, glass-like surface. Painted decoration in iron oxide complements the glaze, creating vivid, spontaneous designs that feel remarkably modern even today.
Motifs and Inspiration
The decorative motifs of Oribe ware are imaginative and often abstract, sharing visual qualities with contemporary textiles and lacquerware. Some motifs appear exotic in origin, likely influenced by imported goods and imagery arriving through the port of Sakai, south of Osaka, which was a major gateway for foreign trade at the time.
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