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Tall tea caddy, Oribe type

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At A Glance

Period

1607-1615
Geography

Motoyashiki kiln, Toki city, Gifu prefecture, Japan
Material

Stoneware with wood-ash and iron glazes; ivory lid.
Dimension

H x Diam: 10.2 × 5.7 cm (4 × 2 1/4 in)
Accession Number

F1901.90a-b
EDAN ID

edanmdm:fsg_F1901.90a-b

Object Details

Description

Light buff clay. String-cut base. Wheel-thrown shape flattened on opposing sides by squeezing, vertical and horizontal carving, and slashing; deep bevel around foot. Mark, "X," incised on base. Iron-tinted ash glaze, appearing khaki brown where thick, dark matte brown where thin at edges and where wiped off intentionally; glossy brown iron glaze applied to neck, running irregularly down body. Inside unglazed. Weight:161.62 grams.
Marks

Incised on the base is a mark shaped like an "X". Various marks appear on Mino wares of the early seventeenth century. Once interpreted as potter's marks, they are now believed to be the marks of the urban merchants of tea utensils who placed special orders for certain pieces (Fujioka 1977: 156-58).
Provenance

To 1901

Japanese Trading Company, New York to 1901 [1]

From 1901 to 1919

Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Japanese Trading Company in 1901 [2]

From 1920

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

Notes:

[1] See Original Pottery List, L. 974, 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

Imperfectly Beautiful: Inventing Japanese Ceramic Style (October 14, 2017 - October 14, 2019)

Oribe Ware: Color and Pattern in Japanese Ceramics (December 13, 2014 to June 14, 2015)

Japanese Ceramics from Seto and Mino (January 19, 1996 to August 5, 2001)

The Glazed Ceramic Tradition of Mino and Seto Wares (April 26, 1985 to January 13, 1986)

Japanese Ceramics from Past to Present (February 18, 1983 to February 16, 1984)
Previous custodian or owner

Japanese Trading Company (C.L. Freer source)

Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
Origin

Motoyashiki kiln, Toki city, Gifu prefecture, Japan
Credit Line

Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Type

Vessel
Restrictions and Rights

Usage Conditions Apply

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