On auction is the print Kyoto Pottery House 京陶匠の家 from the series Twelve Views of Kyoto. This image is of the Kyoto Pottery House of Kiyomizu Rokubei (清水六兵衛), the name bestowed on the head of the Kyoto-based Kiyomizu family of ceramists. With over 240 years of history, the studio is now into its eighth generation. It is currently headed by contemporary ceramist and sculptor Rokubei VIII. The family was influential in the development and survival of Kyō ware. (source: wikipedia) Born in 1917 in Kyoto City, Taizo Minakawa graduated in 1935 from the Kyoto Municipal Arts and Crafts School of Design. As a Modern artist, Taizo earned fame as a dyer, producing textile designs using wax resist, and also created a number of woodblock prints. His work has been exhibited around the world and published in several books. Minakawa incorporates simplified blocks of color and strong black outlines with a handsome use of negative space to create a bold modern style. Many accolades and awards to his credit include: The Kyoto City Dyeing Works Exhibition in 1938 Mayor's Award 1941 Bunten Exhibition 1945 1st Nitten Exhibition 1966 1971 Appointed Director of Contemporary Crafts Artists Association Appointed Councilor of Nitten Exhibition 1980 Appointed Executive Director of Contemporary Crafts Artists Association 1984 Kyoto Prefectural Culture Award for Distinguished Service 1987 Director of All Japan Dyeing and Weaving Crafts Association 1988 Medal of Honor with Dark Blue