Porcelain vase with Under-glaze polychrome hydrangeas, Mino ware

Fifth generation Nishiura Ware potter Nishiura Enji (1856-1914) established a system to mass produce sometsuke and overglaze mainly in Tajimi. He successfully created an underglaze decorating technique using overglaze enamel underneath a transparent glaze, bringing the trends of art nouveau and its glamorously colorful world from the west into the world of Mino ceramics. For his achievements he was awarded a bronze award at the Paris World Exposition in 1889, and also a gold award at the Saint Louis World Exposition in 1904.