Set of six sake or sencha cups with slip design and inscription

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    late 19th century
  • Geography

    Tokyo, Japan
  • Material

    Brown clay; white slip, iron pigment under transparent lead glaze
  • Dimension

    H x Diam (overall): 4.3 x 7.7 cm (1 11/16 x 3 1/16 in)
  • Accession Number

    F1904.429.4
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_F1904.429.4

Object Details

  • Artist

    Miura Ken'ya (1821-1889)
  • Description

    Small ovoidal, on bold, unglazed foot.
    Clay: thin, grayish, Raku-type earthenware.
    Glaze: brilliant iridescent lead glaze; cream hakeme over warm gray.
    Belonging to a set: F1904.429.1-8 (given to Freer as a group but unrelated to other pieces in "set").
  • Signatures

    In iron inside footrim: Ken'ya.
  • Inscriptions

    In iron on outside and incised just outside footrim: "Popular sentiment represents the will of Heaven"
  • Provenance

    To 1904
    Kosa Honma (1842-1909), to 1904 [1]
    From 1904 to 1919
    Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), given by Kosa Honma in 1904 [2]
    From 1920
    Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]
    Notes:
    [1] See Original Pottery List, L. 1310, 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

    Arts of Japan: Edo Aviary and Poetic License (February 2 to August 4, 2013)
    Poetic License: Making Old Worlds New (February 2 to August 4, 2013)
    Artists of Edo (November 19, 2005 to May 29, 2006)
    The Potter's Brush: The Kenzan Style in Japanese Ceramics (December 9, 2001 to October 27, 2002)
    Korean Influences on Japanese Slip-Decorated Ceramics (February 16, 1984 to November 9, 1984)
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Honma Kosa (1842-1909) (C.L. Freer source)
    Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
  • Origin

    Tokyo, Japan
  • Credit Line

    Gift of Charles Lang Freer
  • Type

    Vessel
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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