Roughly translated as “folk craft”, the Mingei movement was popularized in the 1920’s by the Japanese philosopher Yanagi Sōetsu. The movement was an attempt to separate the traditional crafts and lifeways of Japan from the rapid westernization, industrialisation, and urban growth the country experienced during the Meji Restoration.

Japanese potters such as Hamada Shōji and Kawai Kanjirō, as well as the British Bernard Leach and the American Warren MacKenzie were inspired by Japan’s ancient ceramics and began a revival of Japanese studio pottery around the world.

The beauty of everyday objects, made by hand with natural materials by unknown craftsmen relates to the idea of wabi-sabi or beauty in imperfection. Ideas of simplicity and impermanence from Zen buddhism heighten the aesthetic and give mingei art a spiritual connection. Steeped in Zen, the Japanese Tea Ceremony shunned the use of expensive, perfect porcelain dishes from China in favor of the rustic, unique tea bowls used by farmers and peasants in Japan. Traditional chawan, or tea bowls are still used by practitioners of the Tea Ceremony today and their individuality is prized as a representation of our own unique personalities.

I’ve been pleased to offer many contemporary mingei art pieces through Scotch Dollar. Below are a selection of some of my favorites.