Mr. and Mrs. Shibata Collection
The Mr. and Mrs. Shibata Collection contains over 10,000 pieces of Arita ware. Beginning in 1990, the collection was donated to the museum by Shibata Akihiko (1940–2004) and his wife, Yuko (b. 1944), over the course of 14 years. Most of the pieces were intended for the domestic market and thus are different in design and purpose from those in the Kanbara Collection. The exhibit is arranged chronologically, beginning in the 1610s, and the selection of works from different parts of the Edo period (1603–1867) illustrate the development of Arita ware over time.
Early examples of Arita ware are characterized by the grayish to off-white color of the base porcelain. Over time, as the quality and precision of the production process was improved, artisans could produce whiter and thinner porcelain. Beginning in the 1630s, designs started to reflect greater Chinese influences, including auspicious symbols such as herons, cranes, and hares, along with mythical creatures such as dragons and phoenixes, and specific types of flowers. In the late seventeenth century, design and techniques improved greatly, and the reputation of Arita ware grew. Kakiemon-style and kinrande-style pieces are contrasted with earlier pieces to indicate how Arita ware developed.
The exhibit also examines the use of Arita ware during the Edo period with pieces from the collection arranged as they might have been used in various place settings.
Approximately 1,000 of the 10,311 total pieces are displayed each year on a rotating basis. The collection is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
