Tominaga Genroku (1859-1920) was one of the principal potters of Ureshino near Arita. He began the Genroku Studio during Meiji period with the goal of producing the highest quality porcelain in the traditional Imari manner of the 18th century. He did this by revitalizing the kilns of the Ureshino yaki potters who worked in the area in the late 16th/early 17th centuries. In the mid-18th century, the Ureshino potters operated under the patronage and protection of Lord Nabeshima, a name connected with the finest Japanese porcelains.

Genroku was a highly skilled Japanese-style painter and potter as well as a teacher at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts. He exhibited his work only at Japanese exhibitions, and later he became head of the Protection of Cultural Properties Commission. He won a “santo shohai” (third prize) at the Fifth National Industrial Exposition in 1903. Genroku’s works are highly regarded and are considered to be of the caliber of those by more widely known studio potters such as Makuzu Kozan. Examples of his porcelains are featured in the world famous Khalili Collection entitled “Treasures of Imperial Japan.”

CONDITION overall is good with no chips or cracks; however, there is restoration to the neck. This does not detract from the loveliness of the piece and provides an opportunity to own a wonderful example of turn of the century Japanese Studio Porcelain at a fraction of the price. It displays beautifully. DIMENSIONS: 7” (17.8 cm) high, 3” (7.6 cm) approximate diameter.