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Square-Sided Vase

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Vase Title: Square-Sided Vase Material: glazed stoneware with slip inlaid pressed cord pattern Place of Origin: Mashiko kiln, Mashiko, Tochigi prefecture Artist/Maker: Shimaoka Tatsuzo (1919-2007) Signature: Ta Date: Shōwa Period, 1970s Height(in): 7.25 Width(in): 3.50 Depth(in): 3.50 Credit: gift of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hayslip Object No.: 1989.003.009

A common characteristic of the work of Tatsuzo Shimaoka is its cord-marked surfaces for which the potter is especially known. Shimaoka adopted cord-marking (Jōmon) from the pottery of Japan's Jomon Period (c. 10000-c.300 BCE), named by archeologists for its similarly marked earthenware, but the technique probably has personal significance for Shimaoka as well. His father was an artisan who made his living braiding silk cords for use with Japanese clothing. Shimaoka uses braids the elder Shimaoka made for him as well as rope wrapped around wood dowels.
To create patterns Shimaoka rolls a braid or dowel over the still-pliable surface of a vessel, then applies a white clay slip to fill the impressions. After wiping away the excess slip, he applies a clear glaze overall. Shimaoka uses the term suji to identify cord-impressed patterns that appear as the parallel striations of variable thickness on this example.
Tatsuzo Shimaoka was declared Important Intangible Cultural Properties, more commonly known as Living National Treasures in 1996.

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