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| Japanese Porcelain and Ceramics | ||||||||||
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In the history of porcelain,
Japan is no doubt next in importance to China, but still a very
long way after. Buddhism brought the Japanese knowledge of most
of the arts, and they certainly appear to have learned the craft
of porcelain production from China or Korea, or from China through
Korea. The first Japanese porcelains are said to have been made
about 1510, but the native admiration for their own earlier earthenwares
and stonewares was by no means obliterated by their love of the
then foreign porcelain. Later, the potter of Japan copied much
Chinese work, and the Chinese in turn conveyed many ideas from
Japan. Although the Dutch helped forward a considerable commerce
towards the end of the seventeenth century, it was not until the
reopening of trade with Europe about 1860 that the supply of Japanese
porcelains became so general and so well understood. Not long
since the authorities gave to China many of the praises due to
Japan. The best and earliest porcelains are said to still be in
Japan. — Japanese Porcelain, Egan Mew, 1909 It was, indeed, only in 1867 that the beauty and diversity of Japanese Art, and of the Keramic wares especially, were revealed to the outer world, when the treasures of the last of the Shoguns were displayed at the Paris Exhibition; and, when, following upon his deposition in 1868, and the abolition of the feudal system three years later, the collections and heirlooms of his house, and those of the princes, were dispersed and thrown upon the markets of foreign countries, an opportunity of studying the subject was afforded to those who recognised the artistic value of the works. — Japanese Pottery, James L. Bowes, 1890 |
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