Tea bowl, copy of "Hatsuzakura" by Kakkakusai Sosa (1678-1730)

Object Details

• Artist

  Raku Ryonyu (1756-1834)

• Description

  Red Raku-ware tea bowl, copy of "Hatsuzakura" by Kakkakusai.

  Clay: soft, dense, gray-white: Raku type.

  Glaze: red iron slip brushed on, some areas of gray reduction; under clear glaze that appears bubbly and whitish where thick. Two large scars on base.

  Seal: Raku, impressed on base outside footrim.

• Marks

  Seal: Raku, impressed on base outside footrim.

• Label

  This bowl offers an extreme example of the complex relationships that existed between amateur and professional potters. Clumsy details of this bowl such as the shaping of the rim reveal the hand of an amateur, while its shape echoes that of Red Raku tea bowls designed by the archetypal amateur potter, Hon'ami Koetsu. It closely resembles a bowl know as Hatsuzakura (First Cherry), made by the well-known amateur potter Kakkakusai Genso (1678-1730), sixth head of the Omote Senke school of tea (chanoyu) in Kyoto. It also bears the impression of the Raku seal used from 1788 to 1811 by Ryonyu, ninth head of the Raku workshop. Thus this bowl is a professional copy of an amateur's work made in homage to another amateur. It may have been commissioned by the Omote Senke school to commemorate an anniversary related to Kakkakusai. When used for tea, such a bowl could be combined effectively with crisp, orthodox utensils made by professional potters or other craftsmen.

• Provenance

  To 1911

  Y. Fujita and Company, Kyoto, to 1911 [1]

  From 1911 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Y. Fujita and Company in 1911 [2]

  From 1920

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

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Pottery List, L. 2175, 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

  The Koetsu Tea Bowl (May 15, 1998 to June 23, 2005)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Y. Fujita and Company (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Kyoto, Kyoto prefecture, Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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• Related Resources

  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, 1860s, 1670s, 1660s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Fujita

• Place

  Kyoto, Japan, Kyoto prefecture

• Topic

  Tea, Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Copy, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Pottery, Ceramics, Raku ware

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)