Sake bottle, Arita-related ware

Object Details

• Description

  Gourd shape, with silver collar.

  Clay: hard, fine.

  Glaze: white, iridescent, crackled.

  Decoration: in blue, under glaze.

• Label

  The design on this gourd-shaped bottle refers to the story of Kikujido [Jap] (Chinese: Chu-tz'u-t'ung), a page in the court of the Chou-dynasty king, Mu Wang (947-928 B.C.). The youth inadvertently insulted the king and was banished to the south. Chrysanthemums grew abundantly in the place of exile, and Kikujido (literally "the chrysanthemum boy") sustained himself by drinking the dew from their leaves. The dew proved to be an elixir of immortality. This design is particularly apt for a sake bottle, and the bottle's extensive use is shown by the beige sake stains and by the silver collar, probably added to repair a chipped rim.

• Provenance

  To 1901

  Siegfried Bing (1838-1905), Paris, to 1901 [1]

  From 1901 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Siegfried Bing in 1901 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Pottery List, L. 948, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] 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

  Summer Whites: Japanese Porcelain (July 1, 1983 to March 15, 1984)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Siegfried Bing (1838-1905) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Kyushu, Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1840s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Bing, Siegfried, Freer, Charles Lang

• Place

  Kyushu, Japan

• Topic

  Wine and wine making, Charles Lang Freer collection, Porcelain, Art, Gourd, Kyoto ware, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Arita-related ware, Iridescence, Ceramics, Sake

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)