Welcome to the Bizen Pottery Photo Exhibit
Signatures in a pre-fired, wet plate.
The plate was signed by members of the University of Michigan's Center for Japanese Studies, Bizen-cho, Japan, 1954.
The plate was made by Yamamoto Toshu, a local potter. It was signed by Dorothy Blair, the creator of the Bizen ware collection at UMMAA, and her colleagues.
Yamamoto's plate is an example of Bizen ware’s simplicity, as well as a symbol of its enduring popularity throughout the years: Yamamoto Toshu was recognized by the Japanese government for his dedication to the tradition of Bizen ware.
The front cover of Dorothy Blair's photo album. The album dates back to the 1950s.
Introduction
In April 1980, the Museum of Anthropological Archaeology received a photo album of Japanese pottery from Dorothy Blair, a University of Michigan alum. Through the album, Blair showcased pottery made in Bizen, Japan, dating from the Heian period (794 - 1185) to the 1950s. She also captured older examples of Bizen pottery, as well as the beautiful work of local potters. The album is part of the UMMAA's Blair Collection, which includes Bizen ware pottery, potsherds, and Blair’s research notes.
Dorothy Blair holding a potsherd in Imbe, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Who was Dorothy Blair?
Dorothy Blair (1890 - 1989) was a scholar who devoted her life to the study of Japanese glass and pottery. From 1914 to 1926, she worked in several art and archaeology museums. Blair began studying Japanese wares in 1927 as an archaeology student at Kyoto Imperial University. From 1952 to 1956 she was an assistant director at the University of Michigan’s Center for Japanese Studies in Okayama, Japan. During this time, Blair created her photo album of local Bizen potters and their work.