Kanbara Collection (Owned by Arita Town)
The Kanbara Collection was the private collection of Kanbara Hakaru (1896–1987), who donated the works to the town of Arita in 1976 in connection with the creation of the Arita History and Folklore Museum. Although Kanbara was born in Arita, he was named an Honorary Citizen of Arita Town in 1980, the year the Kyushu Ceramic Museum opened, and the Kanbara Collection was transferred to the museum to be placed on permanent display.
All of the Kanbara collection of Arita ware was bought in Europe. It includes many porcelain pieces that were produced in Arita during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries for the European export market. Various styles of Arita ware were exported to Europe during the Edo period (1603–1867), but the kinrande (literally “gold brocade”) style was popular. Featuring cobalt blue underglaze with polychrome (red and gold) overglaze enamel designs, kinrande was intricate and extravagant. Since these pieces were intended for export, their shapes are markedly different from those of pieces made for the Japanese market. Serving vessels produced for Western cuisine include a seasoning set marked with the letters A, O, and S (referring to the Dutch words for vinegar, oil, and sauce, respectively); coffee pots; and lidded bowls with saucers. Once the porcelain reached Europe, gold fittings were sometimes attached to turn vases into candle stands, chandeliers, or lamps.
