MISCELLANEOUS WARES
this ware imitates the Korean Hakime, or "streaked" pottery, in which the white engraved design is intended to represent the marks (me) of a coarse brush (haki), the idea being to convey an idea of boldness and rapidity of finish. A third variety, copied from the Mishima faience of Korea, has a pattern of vertical cord-marks, which, from the resemblance they bear to the lines of closely written characters in the old almanack of Mishima (a large town on the Tokaido), suggested the name of the ware. The decoration of the Yatsushiro-yaki is practically confined to white, incised designs. Rarely, and then only in very choice pieces, is there any addition of blue under the glaze.
Sonkai, or Agano Kizō, having been enrolled among the vassals of the chief of Higo, his family received a perpetual annuity. He died in 1646. One of his sons had remained at Agano, in Busen; another, Chūbei, succeeded to the charge of the Toyobara factory, and a third, Tokubei, called also Toshiro, established a branch factory. About the year 1715 a grandson of Kizō, by name Tarosuke, founded another branch of the family with a separate kiln. For the sake of clearness it will be well to note briefly the various artists of the three factories:—
FAMILY OF AGANO KIZŌ
- Kizō; died 1646.
- Chūbei, art name Hōsan; died (about) 1680.
- Chūbei, art name Ippō; died (about) 1730.
- Chūbei; died (about) 1770.
- Chuzō; died (about) 1810.
- Chubei; died (about) 1850.
- Saibei, afterwards called Shūzō, art name Hōsan; still living, but not working.
- Teizō, the present representative.
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