"り" RA "

"Trivia"

髙橋 楽斎 Rakusai Takahashi

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" 3rd 三 generation has a square hanko on the box and signs the piece with a stick. 4th 四 generation has an oval hanko on the box, but signs the bottom of the piece with a stick.. 5th 五 generation has a square hanko on the box and signs the piece with a hanko chop. " Courtesy by having a nice conversation with Joel Barish (California) Naturally, having found few times boxes & ceramics been reversed in the past, we never take anything for granted. The world of ceramics still remains an unexplored world, & the knowledge its something that it take years and years. This has been the simplest explanation since a long time. There is much more to know, but he describes it extensively in very few words.

Rakusai Takahashi It may change when u write 髙橋楽斎 or 高橋楽斎 (髙 high elevated) or (高 Bronze- Oracle)

Friendly "Translation" by my friend Takeo Aizawa

HISTORY OF SHIGARAKI POTTERY

The history of Shigaraki is long; it is more than 1,000 years since the skills of pottery-making set its root here. In its long history and tradition people have long been a creator of simple beauty, unembelished charm as an artist of earth and fire. The art of Rakusai, who has made his way to the modern world of tea ceremony, is in fact the world of ancient beauty which has recently been reevaluated. I think the world of tea ceremony, which loves peace and serenity, cannot exist without the works of Rakusai.

Spring 1973 Rakusai Takahashi, the 4th Shigaraki-cho, Koga-gun, Shiga Prefecture Phone: 07488-2-0323

Shigaraki area, which originally means "densely-wooded area", was once a mountainous area covered with trees. It is said that Emperor Shomu built a kiln here in the year 742. Weft tiles, agricultural pottery, mortars, etc are said to have been produced.

The original surface of the works is specifically covered with tiny bumps, and the round parts are slightly burnt brownish. In some parts traces of ashes are still left, and drippings of glaze naturally flow down--these are the representations of the natural landscape itself.

In Muromachi era, when the tea-ceremony was widely accepted and appreciated, the refined simplicity of Shigaraki pottery is welcomed and loved by tea-ceremony enthusiasts. Tea masters like Joh-ou, Rikyu even ordered Shigaraki potters to make tea bowls according to their proposed design. They are called Joh-ou Shigaraki, and Rikyu Shigaraki, and then other tea masters like Sotan, Enshu, Ninsei, Kuchu followed suit.

The first generation Rakusai, Takahashi Tozaemon

He was called real master of tea-ceremony pottery in 1831-1845.

Rakusai 2nd, Takahashi Totaro.

Rakusai 3rd, Takahashi Konosuke

- inherited the job as a potter in 1916.

- succeeded to the name of Rakusai 1917

- was awarded the Grand Prix in the World Fair in Brussells in 1960

- was appointed one of the ten greatest potters of Japan in Denmark Exhibition

Rakusai 4th, Takahashi Mitsuo

- succeeded to the name of Rakusai in 1976

- held an exhibition in Los Angeles in 1973

- gave a special lecture on Nobori-gama (climbing kiln) in the University of California in 1973

- was designated as a Traditional Craftsman by the minister of International Trade and Industry of Japan