Iro/色 Nabeshima/鍋島 Fukizumi/吹墨 Kusabana/草花 mon/文 tokkuri/徳利

Fukizumi/吹墨 is a special technique/style of painting developed by the Imaizumi family that was revived in the 20th century. Sōka/Kusabana/草花 is a general term for flowering plant. Works made by Imaizumi have two different markings on them. The pieces made by the head of the family have “今右衛門” Imaemon carved on the bottom of the piece. If the bottom is signed in blue then it is a kiln/apprentice piece. See http://www.studiokotokoto.com/2014/06/27/impeccable-workmanship-the-refined-nabeshima-pottery-of-imaizumi-imaemon/

Imaizumi Imaemon XIII (1926-2001) was designated a Living National Treasure in 1989 for his skill with decorative porcelain wares. In particular, his family keeps alive the tradition of a style of porcelain known as Iro-Nabeshima, a branch of Arita/Imari wares known for its graceful "feudal kiln style," as the feudal Nabeshima clan embraced the Imaemon family as a direct patron for the Imaemon-gama (kiln). Imaemon XIII, the Imaemon who made this particular piece, will stand out in his family's history as the man who reinvigorated the Imaemon-style with flair, grace, and originality. Not content with simply painting elaborate overglaze enameled designs over a piece, Imaemon XIII invented the technique of sometsuke fuki-boku and usu-boku, 'blown-on' techniques that leave gray and blue tinges and pigments upon the porcelain body. Thus, he invented an entirely new color scheme for Nabeshima wares, and immediately his work stood out as the "new wave" of Arita, a kiln site not often associated with standout innovation. Because of Imaemon XIII's efforts, his kiln (the Imaemon-gama) was designated an "important intangible property" in 1975, and Imaemon himself was designated a Living National Treasure in 1989. The number of awards he has won and the worldwide museums with his work are too many to list. [Robert Yellin]

１９２６年　１２代今右衛門の長男に生まれる。
１９４９年　東京美術学校工芸科卒業（現芸大美術部）
１９５７年　日展入選。
１９５８年　佐賀県展にｓて最高賞受賞。
１９６２年　日本伝統工芸展初入選。
　　　　　 　水会陶芸展入選。
１９６５年　日本工芸会会長賞受賞。
　　　　　　 日本工芸会員推挙。
１９７５年　１３代今泉今右衛門襲名。
１９７６年　日本陶磁協会賞受賞。
　　　　　 　重要無形文化財の総合指定。
１９７９年　日本伝統工芸展ＮＨＫ会長賞受賞。
１９８０年　秩父宮賜杯受賞。
１９８６年　紫綬褒章。
１９８９年　重要無形文化財（色絵磁器）保持者に認定。
　　　　　　 日本陶磁協会賞金賞受賞。
１９９５年　外務大臣表彰。
１９９９年　勲四等旭日小綬章受章。
２０００年　日本工芸会副理事長就任。
２００１年　７５歳で逝去。

３００年の伝統を誇る色鍋島の技法を守りつつ「吹墨」「薄墨」「吹重」「緑地」など新たな様式を次々と発表。
鍋島を現代的な感覚で再現する技法は日本の工芸会にも多大な影響を与えた作家です。

See: Frederick Baekeland, ed., Modern Japanese Ceramics in American Collections, pg, 118