26294 Living National Treasure Tatsuzo Shimaoka Inlaid Guinomi SHIMAOKA Tatsuzo

Height: 6.2cm
Diameter: 6.4cm

Tatsuzo Shimaoka was born in Tokyo in 1919, the eldest son of Kumihimo (braiding) master Yonekichi Shimaoka. After graduating from the ceramics department of Tokyo Institute of Technology, he joined the military and returned home. At the age of 27, he became a disciple of Shoji Hamada in Mashiko. Shimaoka became independent at 35 and, until his death in 2007 at the age of 88, he created numerous works in the field of folk craft using his unique "Jomon Zogan" (Jomon inlaid) technique.

It is believed that the idea for Tatsuzo's Jomon technique originated from his upbringing, as he initially used kumihimo braids made by his father, Yonekichi. In 1996, Tatsuzo Shimaoka was designated a Living National Treasure (Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property). He was a leading Japanese potter who regarded Shoji Hamada as his lifelong mentor and established the Jomon Zogan technique by applying his father's kumihimo braids. He actively held solo exhibitions and gave lectures overseas, spreading folk pottery to the world.