Oribe-style incense container with design of kudzu

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    1720-1760
  • Geography

    Kyoto, Kyoto prefecture, Japan
  • Material

    Buff clay with white slip, iron and copper pigments under transparent glaze
  • Dimension

    H x Diam: 3.5 × 8.9 cm (1 3/8 × 3 1/2 in)
  • Accession Number

    F1900.70a-b
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_F1900.70a-b

Object Details

  • Artist

    Style of Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743)
    Kyoto workshop, Kenzan style
  • Description

    Carse, buff clay. Underglaze iron painted decoration of kuzu vine and stripes. Clear glaze, coarsely and irregularly crackled, over white slip; splashes of copper-green. Base unglazed. Signature, "Kenzan," in iron pigment on biscuit on reverse of lid.
  • Signatures

    Kenzan, in iron pigment on biscuit on reverse of lid.
  • Provenance

    Ikeda Seisuke (1839-1900), Kyoto [1]
    To 1900
    Bunkio Matsuki (1867-1940), Boston, to 1900 [2]
    From 1900 to 1919
    Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Bunkio Matsuki in 1900 [3]
    From 1920
    Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [4]
    Notes:
    [1] According to Curatorial Remark 4, C.L. Freer, 1914, in the object record: "From an excellent collection (Ikeda)." See also, Curatorial Remark 1 and Curatorial Remark 7, L.A. Cort, 1987, in the object record."
    [2] See Original Pottery List, L. 767, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.
    [3] See note 2.
    [4] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.
  • Collection

    Freer Gallery of Art Collection
  • Exhibition History

    Seasons: Tea (February 5 to August 7, 2011)
    Seasons: Arts of Japan (February 5, 2011 to January 13, 2013)
    The Potter's Brush: The Kenzan Style in Japanese Ceramics (December 9, 2001 to October 27, 2002)
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Ikeda Seisuke (1839-1900)
    Bunkio Matsuki 松木文恭 (1867-1940) (C.L. Freer source)
    Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
  • Origin

    Kyoto, Kyoto prefecture, Japan
  • Credit Line

    Gift of Charles Lang Freer
  • Type

    Container
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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