Black Raku incense burner in "melon" shape

Object Details

• Artist

  Imitation of Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743)

  Kyoto workshop

• Description

  Melon-shaped incense burner. Pottery cover with bird finial.

  Clay: earthenware

  Glaze: Black Raku style. Reddish areas on shoulder and lid.

  Decoration: incised in glaze, revealing paste reserve. Melon leaves and tendrils.

• Signatures

  Kenzan, incised in glaze near base.

• Provenance

  To 1907

  Kita Toranosuke, Kyoto, to 1907 [1]

  From 1907 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Kita Toranosuke in Kyoto in 1907 [2]

  From 1920

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

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Pottery List, L.1537, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Charles Lang Freer's 1907 pocket diary shows that he visited Kita's store in Kyoto on June 17, after arriving in the city on June 15 (according to Curatorial Remark 7, Louise Cort, August 17, 2010, in th eobject record).

  [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

  Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea (December 9, 2023 - ongoing)

  The Potter's Brush: The Kenzan Style in Japanese Ceramics (December 9, 2001 to October 27, 2002)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Kita Toranosuke (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Kyoto, Kyoto prefecture, Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Vessel

• On View

  Freer Gallery 20a: Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1800s, 1890s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Kita, Toranosuke

• Place

  Kyoto, Japan, Kyoto prefecture

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Animals, Incense, Japanese Art, Birds, Ceramics, Meiji era (1868 - 1912), Raku ware

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes