Tea-leaf storage jar, Sobokai type

Object Details

• Description

  Gray clay, reddish brown on surface (Sobokai clay). Concentrically trimmed base. Four broad lugs equally spaced on shoulder. Inscription incised on base, "Sobokai [tsukuru?]" ([made at?] Sobokai). Thin iron slip over neck, shoulder, and most of body; thin, naturally occuring ash glaze deposit on shoulder and inside neck. Inside unglazed. Paulownia wood lid, inscribed in ink "Ubagafutokoro." Silk storage bag.

• Inscriptions

  Inscription incised on base, "Sobokai [tsukuru?]" ([made at?] Sobokai).

  Inscription incised on base, "Sobokai [tsukuru?]" ([made at?] Sobokai).

• Provenance

  To 1966

  N.V. Hammer, Inc., New York. [1]

  From 1966

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from N.V. Hammer, Inc., New York. [2]

  Notes:

  [1] Curatorial Remark 1 in the object record.

  [2] See note 1.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Rinpa Screens (February 25, 2023 to February 4, 2024)

  Storage Jars (March 15, 2014 to June 28, 2015)

  The Potter's Mark: Tea Ceramics and Their Makers (August 18, 2007 to February 24, 2008)

  Japanese Ceramics from Seto and Mino (January 19, 1996 to August 5, 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 Art (July 1, 1974 to April 10, 1978)

• Previous custodian or owner

  N.V. Hammer, Inc.

• Origin

  Kakishita no. 1 kiln, Toki city, Gifu prefecture, Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• On View

  Freer Gallery 05: Rinpa Screens

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1520s, 1550s

• Name

  N.V. Hammer, Inc.

• Place

  Toki city, Japan, Gifu prefecture, Kakishita no. 1 kiln

• Topic

  Mino ware, Sobokai type, Tea, Art, Muromachi period (1333 - 1573), Stoneware, Japanese Art

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes