Seto Ceramic Doll Exhibition

An exhibition currently being held in Seto at the prefectural Ceramic Museum is celebrating the 100th anniversary since the production of novelty porcelain figures started in the city.

“The Charm of the Ceramic Dolls” features 120 pieces made in Seto and around the world.

“We want to prove that we can still craft ceramic figures of this high quality,” said Norichika Kato, the 54-year-old president of Seto-based ceramic doll manufacturer TK Nagoya Ningyo Seito Corp. His company’s works are among those on display at the museum.

TK Nagoya Ningyo Seito is the only manufacturer in Japan that produces ceramic lace dolls, for which a mastery of highly sophisticated skills is required. While the local ceramic novelties industry has declined, the company is enjoying brisk sales of popular figures, such as Disney characters.

Seto ceramic novelties are distinguished by their meticulous workmanship that makes the most of the high-quality clay. While the city of Seto has long been commonly known as the town of Setomono (ceramics), the city was also the world’s leading manufacturer of ceramic novelties after World War II.

During the post-war period, the industry enjoyed a boom period, with most ceramic products bound for the U.S. market. Since 1985, however, the novelty industry has seen a sharp drop in exports due to a stronger yen, leading to the decline of the industry. At present, only a handful of manufacturers still market the novelties in Japan.

One of the dolls in the exhibition is a “Hanayome ningyo” doll produced by the founder of TK Nagoya Ningyo Seito and Kato’s grandfather, Tokumatsu. First offered by the company more than 50 years ago, the Hanayome ningyo is a ceramic bride figure dressed in Japanese-style clothing with Western facial features.

Newly created ceramic figures called the “Nagoya ningyo” doll, created by Kato’s older sister, Kumiko Motomura, 56, are also on display. As opposed to the Hanayome ningyo doll which it is based on, Motomura created three kinds of Nagoya ningyo dolls, each with Japanese facial features and wearing a different colored kimono.

The making of the Nagoya ningyo dolls involved a lot of delicate work by hand. Motomura rolled out a mass of clay to make a strand of hair one by one. In addition to crafting a Japanese wedding headpiece and a fan made of ceramics, she embellished the figure with details such as the laced patterns on the kimono belt.

Kato said that the Nagoya ningyo dolls represent his wish to revive the Seto novelties industry.

“Our work would be recognized if we continue to make novelties with high skills and sensitivity,” Kato added.

Satoshi Tamura, a 42-year-old curator at the museum, proposed the exhibition. He was born to a family in Koka, Shiga Prefecture, which produces Shigaraki earthenware plates, the region's specialty, at its pottery.

“I want to preserve the ceramic industry in this city of Seto as I am also concerned (with the industry),” Tamura said. “I hope that the exhibition will convey the brilliance of what the creators have made.”

The exhibition will continue through Aug. 17.

Asahi