Arita ware dish in Kutani style

Object Details

• Description

  Paste: hard, fine. Porcelain.

  Glaze: clear.

  Decoration: upper surface: colored enamels over glaze; under surface: blue, under glaze.

  Mark written on base.

• Marks

  Mark: "fuku" [Jpn], inside double square, written on base in underglaze cobalt.

• Inscriptions

  The small ceramic plates F1907.528-532 were purchased as a set that had been put together in Japan. On the interior of the lid for the box that contained them was the following inscription:

  Toriawase mukozuke sara [Jpn] "Assembled side dish plates" followed by identification of the five plates. This plate was identified as:

  Kutani yaki (?) kado gata [Jpn] "Kutani ware (?) corner shape"

• Provenance

  Kato family, Japan [1]

  To 1907

  Unidentified owner, Japan, to 1907 [2]

  From 1907 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased in Japan from an unidentified owner in 1907 [3]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [4]

  Notes:

  [1] According to F1907.530, Curatorial Remark 7, L.A. Cort, 1982, in the object record (and quoting from the "Boxed In" exhibition label): "The lid of the box containing this charming mixed set of five small plates relates that they were assembled by one Kato, possibly as early as the 18th century, and treasured by his heirs." That inscription states that this object was "One of the treasures of the Kato house" (see Curatorial Remark 4, L.A. Cort, 1982, in the object record).

  [2] See Original Pottery List, L. 1580, 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

  Cornucopia: Ceramics of Southern Japan (December 19, 2009 to January 9, 2011)

  Dinner for Five: Japanese Serving Dishes for Elegant Meals (March 4 to October 21, 2001)

  Boxed In: Japanese Ceramics and Their Storage Boxes (September 23, 1982 to February 17, 1983)

  Japanese Ceramics (April 11, 1978 to January 17, 1980)

  Japanese Ukiyo-e Painting (May 2, 1973 to July 1, 1974)

  Japanese Art—Paintings, Pottery (August 18, 1967 to September 20, 1971)

  Japanese Art, Galleries 3, 4, and 5 (January 1, 1963 to September 16, 1970)

  Hokusai Bicentennial Exhibition (March 30, 1960 to August 16, 1961)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 3 and 4 (February 25, 1956 to January 1, 1963)

  Untitled Exhibition, Japanese Art, 1955 (October 25, 1955 to November 22, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Japanese Art (October 3, 1947 to February 25, 1956)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Kato Family

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Kusunokidani kilns, Arita, Saga prefecture, Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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• Date

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• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Kato Family

• Place

  Kusunokidani kilns, Japan, Saga prefecture, Arita

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Porcelain, Art, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Arita ware, Kutani type, Ceramics

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)