15. Nonomura Ninsei

NINSEI Nonomura Ninsei

仁清   /  野々村 仁清

Active in 17th centrury

 

Nonomura Ninsei was living and working in the 17th century, but exact data are unknown. He was born as Seisuke Nonomura in the village of Nono in Tamba, an old province partly near modern Kyōto Prefecture and known as a pottery making center. The name Nonomura is derived from his birthplace Nono, the name Ninsei from Ninna ji Temple where his kiln was located and his real name Seisuke , so he became “Nonomura Ninsei.” He studied ceramics and glazing techniques in Seto before he moved  to Kyoto around 1647.  Here he established the Omuro kiln near the front gate of the Ninna ji temple. In his work he was a student of and influenced by Kawamori Sowa (1585-1656), learning and developing a style of ceramics known as ‘Kirei-sabi’. Ninsei adapted existing styles to create works of color and refinement that Kawamori promoted.

Nonomura Ninsei  used white stone ware and enamel over-glazes to conjure works that still have a major influence to modern Kyo ware style of Ninseiyaki,  known for their colorful overglaze and gold decorations, as well as their refined Kyoto-style patterns.

Overglazed tea leaf jar with design of temple in m mountains. Important Cultural Property. Nezu museum.

 Until his appearance, the Kyo-yaki works (including Awatayaki) were only with glaze, or under glaze painting (Sabie-sometsuke); drawn with rusty color and cobalt blue paint.  Ninsei introduced the technique of over glaze painting using with red, blue, green, purple, gold, and silver colors. For his decorations he used traditional themes such as waves or foliage, and then applied splashing glazes ofte using a counter-drip cross flow by turning the object over. Ninsei also used motifs from inktscroll painters as Muromachi to create masterpieces in his own style.  Nonomura Ninsei is considered to be the first potter who included not just the name of the kiln but the seal of the artist on his pottery to designate his work.

The beauty of his colorful and elegantly shaped ceramics, especially his chatsubo (tea jars) were celebrated, and his attention to fine detail and brilliant use of design was cherished by many of the feudal lords and court nobles. No single potter has a greater influence on later Japanese pottery,  and his work only can be seen in the musea as Important Cultural Property.  Ocassionally a Ninsei signed work is offered at auction, referring to the imprinted Mark what is underneath. Be aware that Ninsei style objects signed with his seal were already made in late edo and early Meiji period, as is mentioned by James Lord Bowes (Japanese Marks and Seals- 1882). So these objects can be old, but certainly not made by the master.

 

Some examples and the seal of Nonomura Ninsei.