9. Okamoto Ryozan

RYOZAN Okamoto Ryozan

[亮山] (real name Nakamura Tatsunosuke) 

 

 

Ryozan ( his real name was Nakamura Tatsunosuke) was trained by Nishimura Zengoro, the 10th generation  of a celebrated Kyoto pottersfamily who died in 1841. Nishimura was the father of famous Eiraku Zengora, better known as Eiraku Hozen (1795-1854).  Nishimura Zengora made high quality ware, some in Satsuma style and used the artname of Ryozan. Actually he was the first Ryozan and after his death Nakamura Tasunosuke adopted the artistisic name of Okamoto Ryozan, to honour his teacher and predecessor. 

Ryozan became the leading decorator working for the famous Yasuda company and is regarded as one of the best Satsuma artist in Meiji-time. But in spite of his fame, there is little known about his life.

The Okamoto Ryozan [亮山] signature below the Yasuda logo and  its company name KYOTO TOJIKI GOSHI KAISHA  (陶磁噐 合資 會社)

 

The above information is from Nancy Schiffers “Japanese export ceramics” and  Kiernans “The Best book on Satsuma”, but it is hard to get any confirmation from documents or books from that time like “Japan, its history, arts, and literature” by  Frank Brinkley, published in 1901.  Based on what is written above (he was trained by Nishimura Zengora , who died in 1841 or 1851) it is assumable to say that Ryozan was born ca.1820-1830, making him an old man of 70-80 around 1900. That should date most, if not all of his work from the late Edo or Meiji period before 1900. Since the Yasuda (Kyoto Tojiki Goshi Kaisha) company was only founded in 1896, this would mean that he must have been very prolific in creating masterpieces even at a very old age. That is very unlikely, but in theory not impossible.

 

But what we do know for sure is that Ryozan was the leading decorator for the Yasuda company, that his work is always of the highest quality and that his best work only can be admired for its incomparable and breathtaking refinement of details that only really comes into its own when viewed under a magnifying glass.  Ryozan was a true masterdecorator of Meiji time.

A wonderful reticulated baluster vase by Okamoto Ryozan, signed Dai Nippon Kyoto Ryozan beneath the Yasuda Company logo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A  lidded vase or caddy  by Okamoto Ryozan, very meticolous decorated in polychrome enamels and gilt with beauties and floral or traditional wagara patterns, and of rare model with 14 faces (6 squares and 8 triangles, known in geometry as cuboctahedron)

 

 

 

 

 

The beauty of this innerside of a kogo is almost impossible to capture in a photo, because it only has a diameter of 8 cm. It is a good example of the special refinement and precision of Ryozans work, in this case probably by using a single-haired brush. The painting shows a deity with a sword and a dragon behind her. Possibly it is a representation of Benten, the Buddhist pattern goddess of literature and music, of wealth and femininity who is often accompanied by a dragon.

 

Note that there was another Ryozan working in Meiji period, who  also decorated high quality Satsuma ware. This Ryozan was working for Meizan Company and signed with 良山.