Photo: New Color Insatsu
(1933-2009)
TOKUDA YASOKICHI III was born in Ishikawa Prefecture as the eldest son of Tokuda Yasokichi II. After having withdrawn from the Kanazawa Arts and Crafts College, he helped his father to pursue the traditional family ceramic business. He learned the traditional methods of kutani glaze preparation and decoration from his grandfather, Tokuda Yasokichi I. At first Tokuda confined himself to traditional style pieces with a modern flavor. However, after 1973, he was prompted by his peers to develop a personal style. He invented a technique that enabled him to control the suffusion of kutani color glazes, creating a starburst effect that is, according to the artist, “somewhat in the manner of modern color-field painters such as Mark Rothko.” Tokuda was designated National Living Treasure in 1997 for porcelain with colored glazes.
Blue, green, and yellow kutani glazed faceted columnar vase
2007-08
Glazed porcelain
12 5/8 x 5 1/4 in.
SOLD
Large blue fluted vessel
2005
Glazed porcelain
11 1/8 x 14 1/2 in.
SOLD
Blue and purple kutani-glazed columnar vase with vertically carved undulating patterning
ca. 2004
Glazed porcelain
8 1/8 x 5 1/2 in.
SOLD
Medium-sized vase with infused blue and purple kutani glazes
ca. 2004
Glazed porcelain
12 x 9 1/2 in.
SOLD
Tall cylindrical vase with small raised mouth covered in kutani glazes of dark blue, turquoise, dark purple and white
2000-2003
Glazed porcelain
24 x 9 1/4 in.
SOLD
Kutani blue glazed globular vase with narrow upraised mouth and single stripe design
ca. 2000
Glazed Porcelain
9 7/8 x 9 3/5 in.
Inv# 7914
SOLD
Globular vase with infused deep and light blue kutani glazes
1998-2000
Glazed porcelain
9 1/8 x 8 1/2 in.
SOLD
Round plate with dark blue, emerald green, turquoise and yellow kutani glazes
ca. 1997
Glazed porcelain
1 7/8 x 15 1/2 in.
SOLD
Globular vase with raised neck and covered in “dripping” infused blue and yellow kutani glazes
ca. 1997
Glazed porcelain
10 1/4 x 10 in.
SOLD
Shallow round bowl with conical base
ca. 1990
Glazed porcelain
15 3/8 x 3 1/2 in.
Inv# 6658
SOLD
