(from

Tottori, Japan is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Tottori Prefecture is the least populous prefecture of Japan at 570,569 (2016) and has a geographic area of . Tottori Prefecture borders Shimane Prefecture to the west, Hirosh ...

, born May 1, 1954) is a Japanese ceramic artist known for white porcelain. He is a Living National Treasure of Japan and a member of the

Japan Kōgei Association The Japan Kōgei Association (日本工芸会) is a non-profit association dedicated to the protection and development of intangible cultural heritage, traditional Japanese crafts and supporting artisans such as Living National Treasures. The or ...

. Maeta's style is achieved by hand-forming his works as opposed to forming them on a potter's wheel. He uses his fingers, palms, and a blade to perfect the shape of his white porcelain sculptures.

Awards and recognition

As a result of his work with ceramics, Maeta has won numerous awards including the Ceramic Society of Japan award in 2003. He is also acknowledged as a holder of important intangible cultural property for his work with white porcelain. In 2007, he was awarded a

Medal of Honour with purple ribbon A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be int ...

by the

government of Japan The Government of Japan consists of legislative, executive and judiciary branches and is based on popular sovereignty. The Government runs under the framework established by the Constitution of Japan, adopted in 1947. It is a unitary state, c ...

. In 2013, he was recognized as a Living National Treasure of Japan.

Collections containing work

British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...

, London, United Kingdom *

Tottori Prefectural Museum The is a prefectural museum located in Tottori, Japan, dedicated to the nature, history, folklore, and art of Tottori Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Tottori Prefecture is the least populou ...

, Tottori Prefecture, Japan

References

External links

Akihiro Maeta website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maeta, Akihiro 1954 births Living National Treasures of Japan Living people 20th-century Japanese people 21st-century Japanese people