Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 8.djvu/391

 which often passes, or is made to pass, for "Ko-Banko" is finely crackled faience of dark cream or light grey tint, decorated with blue under the glaze, and above it with a preponderance of red and green floral designs, or red diapers among which are reserved medallions containing landscapes or mythical subjects. Pieces in this style bear a considerable resemblance to the modern Akahada-yaki, but even in the absence of marks the two may be readily distinguished, not only by the omission of the blue in the latter, but also by its denser pâte and the yellowish tinge of the body-glaze. The amateur will generally be safe in attributing specimens of this nature to Yusetsu. Yuyeki, originally called Yohei, a younger brother of Yusetsu, was also an able artist—better, indeed, than Yusetsu himself according to some authorities. The reader will perceive that in the hands of Yusetsu the Banko-ware underwent a complete change of character. This alteration was carried still farther by his son. Abandoning coloured glazes and brilliant decoration, the younger Yusetsu made beauty of form and plastic skill his chief aims. In his hands the Banko-yaki became hard, light, thin pottery,—sometimes without glaze, sometimes having a slight coat of colourless diaphanous glaze,—exquisitely modelled, the pâte grey, white, dove-coloured, chocolate, or black, its surface slightly roughened, and relieved by delicately executed designs in white slip.

His ware became immediately popular: it suited Japanese taste excellently. Factories were opened in 1845 by Yamaka Chiuzaemon and Takekawa Chikusai; in 1861 by Hori Tomonao; in 1876 by Kuwamura Matasuke; in 1879 by Ito Shōhachi and Matsumura Seikichi, etc. The industry spread also