WARES OF KYŌTŌ
The first Dōhachi, a retainer of the Kame-yama fief in Ise, was born in 1740. His family name was Takahashi. He established himself at Awata in the Hōreki era (1751–1763), and having studied the keramic art under Eisen of Kyō-mizu, began the manufacture of pottery. He was an expert bamboo-carver, as well as a potter, and he assumed the artist name of Shōfutei Kūchū. He died in 1804, and was succeeded by his son, the second Dōhachi, to whose skill the name chiefly owes its eminence. This artist did not long remain at Awata. He changed his residence to Gojō-zaka, another part of Kyōtō, in 1811, and there carried on the potter's trade with great success. He was not less renowned for his porcelain than for his faience, but the latter only need be noticed here. Dōhachi enjoyed the patronage of many aristocrats in the Imperial city; notably of Prince Ninnaji, who conferred on him (1826) the artist names of Hōkyō and Nin-a. The latter is the origin of the appellation "Ninami" which Dōhachi thenceforth adopted, and with which many of his pieces are marked. In 1842 the third Dōhachi moved to Momoyama, at Fushimi, a suburb of Kyōtō, and manufactured faience distinguished as Momoyama-yaki. He was invited to Arita by the Prince of Hizen in 1869, and spent some time there, giving instruction in the decorative art. It seems strange that Arita should have needed such assistance, but the Prince's object was doubtless to introduce the spirit of the Kyōtō art rather than its technical methods. Dōhachi of the fourth generation now represents the family. He is president of the Kyōtō Pottery Association, and his productions have been honoured by nine medals and certificates at various exhibitions at home and abroad.
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