Sakuma Totaro (1900-1976). A stoneware dish, signed tomobako.

A substantial dish with deep brown iron glaze leaves on a jade green copper glaze. The back of the dish is undecorated and covered in a transparent ash glaze. Most pieces by Totaro, like those by Hamada Shoji, are unsigned.

The original wood storage box (tomobako) is signed in ink with "medium dish (chu-zara) with flower on green glaze", "Mashiko folk art kiln Totaro" with a red seal of the potter.

First son of Sakuma Fukujiro, a mingei potter in Mashiko, Totaro first studied ceramics with his father. The potter met Hamada Shoji who visited Mashiko in 1924 when Hamada lived at the Sakuma household and developed his craft at the Sakuma pottery. Totaro was fascinated with Hamada's knowledge of ceramics and his attitude towards pottery and he worked with Hamada in the Sakuma pottery studio at Mashiko for two months. Totaro had an acquaintance with Bernard Leach and Kawai Kanjiro through Hamada, also Tomimoto Kenkichi, Shiko Munakata, Kanjiro Kawai and Mingei’s own author Soetsu Yanagi. Totaro was instrumental in the creation of the Mingei movement at Mashiko.

There is a fine biography and appraisal of Sakuma Totaro by Robert Yellin for the Japan Times June 24th, 2000. www.e-yakimono.net/html/sakuma-totaro-jt.html

Approximately 27.5cm diameter. Perfect condition. The tomobako baseboard needs some glue.

The stand is not included.

Please study the photographs.

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