Maggs Bros.

This is an extraordinary survey of minka-style architecture in Kyoto. The term minka refers to a style of vernacular architecture that was used by farmers, artisans, and merchants, i.e. people who did not belong to the samurai class. In the wake of rapid modernisation during the Meiji and Taisho period people became aware of the disappearance of Minka housing stock. This awareness, together with an emerging interest in traditional arts and crafts led to the publication of this richly illustrated book. Over 300 images record the inside and outside of some of Kyoto’s oldest houses.

Minka architecture and housing was of great interest to the Mingei theorists as examples of everyday craft – the architecture of the houses themselves, as well as the interior objects were made by ordinary people, for ordinary people. The focus of mingei was to draw attention to these craftspeople and objects, celebrating the mastery of their work and what Soetsu Yanagi called ‘the beauty of everyday objects’.

Benrido specialised in high quality collotype reproductions and was the preferred printer for photographers with artistic ambitions. This book would have cost a small fortune to produce and it was financed by the Kyoto Branch of the Osaka Mainichi newspaper.

Only 3 copies in OCLC