Tokuda Yasokichi (20 November 1873-20 February 1956）(徳田八十吉) was a Japanese potter.

Biography

He specialised in Kutani ware.

Successors

The main heir of the family always takes on the name Tokuda Yasokichi.

Tokuda Yasokichi III (1933-2009) became a Living National Treasure for his saiyu glaze technique.[1][2][3] He interpreted Kutani in a new way with abstract colourful designs.[4] Pieces by him are in museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[5]

As he did not have a son as an heir but a daughter, she became the successor and took on the male name Tokuda Yasokichi IV (b. 1961), which was allowed in order for the name to not go extinct. She is the only exception in the Japanese ceramics family dynasties as a female head.[6]

References

  1. ^ http://shofu.pref.ishikawa.jp/shofu/intro_e/HTML/H_S30709.html
  2. ^ http://www.mirviss.com/artists/tokuda-yasokichi-iii
  3. ^ http://onishigallery.com/tokuda-yasokichi-iii
  4. ^ http://www.e-yakimono.net/html/tokuda-yasokichi-jt.html
  5. ^ http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search#!/search?artist=Tokuda%20Yasokichi%20III$Tokuda%20Yasokichi%20III
  6. ^ http://japanesedesign.pl/2012/tokuda-yasokichi-iii/
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