13. Takeuchi Chubei

CHUBEI 

Takeuchi Chubei (1852-1922)

竹内 忠兵衛

 

Not much is known about the life of Takeuchi Chubei but he is considered to be one of the ceramics master of Meiji time. He was born in 1852 and worked in Nagoyama where Seto made products were painted on such a large scale that Nagoyama became a hallmark of Seto's export ceramic production. Takeuchi Chiubei's ceramics shop which opened around 1887 only lasted for a few years and closed in 1890. The work of Takeuchi Chubei is for two reasons  important in history of japanese  ceramics.  He was the master of Totai- that is cloissonne on eartenware or porcelain, and he invented te Ishime-yaki-also called ‘Sharkskin’ decoration on which the body has a rough but very fine structure.

 
Totai-shippo

Totai-ware, also referred to as Totai-shippo (or Jiki-shippo when silverdreads are used) is cloisonné on ceramics . It has the appearance of metallic cloisonné ware, however some parts of the surface might be left decorated as normal porcelain. Cloisonne is a technique where metal edges are applied to the surface to keep the different colors of enamel separated from each other. On normal cloisonne copper is used as the body on wich the metal dreads and the enamels are layed, but in Totai-shippo the body is earthenware. The process of making cloisonné begins with the porcelain or earhenware base formed into different shapes of vases, jars, and bowls, to which flat bronze wires are then affixed in decorative patterns. Enamels of different colors are applied to fill the cloisonné or hollows. Because earthenware and metal expand to varying degrees after firing, it is extremely vulnerable. 

For this reason Totai Shippo products were only made for a short period of time, around 1880 and after a short period of ten years discontinued because of the difficulty in producing specimens that were not flawed or damaged in manufacture. Specimens of high quality and in excellent condition are very difficult to find. It was produced at Shippo-Gaisha factory in Nagoya, in the Aichi prefecture of Honshu, Japan. Takeuchi Chubei was one of the most prolific artists associated with Shippo Gaisha who produced totai shippo pieces.

Cloisonne on metal as silver, bronze or copper was mastered well before Takeuchi Chubei but he has perfected the process of Totai-shippo and is considered the master of Totai-ware, and some scholars even believe that he was literally the only artison who could master the extremely difficult process so perfectly.

大日本製造七宝会社工人竹内忠兵衛/(Dai Nippon, sei-zo, Shippo Kuwaisha, kozin, Takeuchi Chiu-beye.)

Two examples of Chubei Takeuchi's work in Totai Shippo technique.

Sharkskin- decoration

Another special type of decoration is called “Ishime-yaki” or  “Sharkskin” on which the body has a rough but very fine surface. It has the look of satin but feels as fine sandpaper. Sharkskin glazed decoration was invented by Takeuchi Chobei) who got a patent for it in 1882. He always signed this ware with the patent number 二二五二五一五" (2252515) and his name Takeuchi.

Its tactile surface earns it the name 'sharkskin', but it also is known by the trade name 'Coralene'. The rough surface was created by painting the pottery and then sprinkling it with a powder of special transparent fluxes that melts over low heat. The texture of this stone suppresses light reflection, combined with light blue and light red tones that are blown onto the substrate, creating a unique beauty with a light and soft atmosphere. Due to its cost, Japanese sharkskin porcelain was made only for a short time during the late 19th and early 20th century.

 

 

 

A sharksin-glazed vase with details and signature. 

A sharksin-glazed vase of rare form, decorated with various mons (crests).