23.0 x 16.0cm The Mingei movement was a Western-inspired craft
movement, distinguished by its appreciation of, and inspiration
from, European and Japanese folk crafts. Its most representative
artist is perhaps Hamada Shôji. In 1920 Hamada accompanied the
British potter Bernard Leach (who had studied pottery in Japan)
to England. After Hamada returned to Japan in 1924, the two
potters kept in touch, visiting and holding exhibitions
together. Their works were largely inspired by English slipware
and other folk pottery, and were given a theoretical support by
Yanagi Soetsu (1889-1961), a religious philosopher who claimed
that the supreme beauty of craft was found in pieces made by
anonymous craftspeople for use by ordinary people. The theory,
rather ironically promoted by works of prominent artists such as
Hamada and Leach (who published Yanagi's theory under the title
'The unknown craftsman'), was embraced by many craftspeople. In
Japan, the style has been continued by potters such as Kawai
Takeichi and Shimaok