Mingei Arts

A lasting contribution to the study of Japanese textiles and to the cultural history of the Inland Sea region, this volume presents a historical ethnography of the fishing villages that produced the sashiko no donza, or fisherman’s coat. It provides as well an in-depth analysis of regional textile production, the sashiko tradition in the Village [...]

This informative book, with 43 illustrations in full color and 149 in black and white, describes the development of Japanese textile art in relation to the social background of the times. The author discusses two outstanding forerunners of the modern kimono: the kosode and the costumes of the Noh theatre. Examples of costume art and [...]

Japanese women from the Edo Era to the Early Showa Era periods wore Hair Combs and Ornamental Hairpins that were made with various materials like ivory and coral, in a multitude of shapes employing a variety of skills in their fabrication.
 As you look at the images in this publication, you will gain a wonderful [...]

Cloisonné is an ancient technique for decorating metalwork, in recent centuries using vitreous enamels, and in older periods also inlays of cut gemstones, glass, and other materials. The resulting objects can also be called Shippou in Japanese. The decoration is formed by first adding compartments, (cloisons in French) to the metal object by soldering or [...]

When you think of Japan, bamboo (bambus) springs to mind. This exotic plant was Hans Aporry’s ruling passion. A resident of Yokohama from 1890 until 1896, the Zurich silk merchant lavished time and resources on amassing an incomparable collection of objects made of bamboo. As well as a wide variety of objects made from bamboo, [...]

The Fascination of Ceramics: Masterpieces of Modern Japanese Pottery from the Gisela Freudenberg Collection is a “true collector’s resource” which is divided into six (6) thematic sections: • Masterpieces of Living National Treasures • Folk Kilns • Six-Old Kilns • Major Individualists • Sculptural Ceramics • Painted Wares This book features the work of late [...]

This two-volume set focuses on the subject of tea. From China to India, Japan to Great Britain, tea is a national institution in many countries. The first volume contains photographs taken during nine years of travel in China, Tuaregs, the UK, Japan, France and Sikkim. The second volume contains text that unfolds the ritual of [...]

The Japanese robes in this exhibition catalogue can be seen as exquisite textiles-tapestries for the body that need no history to inform the viewer of their importance as art. Japanese people often attribute personality traits to people from particular regions and positions within society (i.e., Fuyu no so [nobility], gentry, farmers, artisans, and merchants), and [...]