Basin

Object Details

• Description

  The basin is constructed of wood, with three carved legs attached at the base. The interior and legs of the basin have been lacquered in the manner typical of Negoro ware, with layers of red lacquer applied over a black lacquer foundation. The sides of the basin have, however, been coated with uncolored lacquer used as a translucent protective varnish.

• Provenance

  At least 1962-1967

  Oriental Art Gallery, New York, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  From 1967

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Oriental Art Gallery, New York [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See copy of Freer Gallery of Art vault card V40.62, showing that the object was delivered to the Freer for examination on March 23, 1962. The object was shipped via freight rail by Oriental Art Gallery. Oriental Art Gallery was based in Tokyo, Japan, and was founded and operated by the Watanabe family, including Mitsue, and then Matoko, Watanabe. The Watanabes opened a gallery with the same name on Madison Avenue in New York City, and they retained Joseph U. Seo (1911-1998) to act as their U.S. agent from approximately 1950-1960. Seo was a Japanese American dealer of Chinese and Japanese Art, and before becoming the U.S. representative for Oriental Art Gallery he had his own art business in New York, Seo & Company.

  [2] See object file for copy of Oriental Art Gallery invoice to the Freer Gallery of Art, dated June 14, 1967, and marked approved by the Secretary on May 31, 1967.

  Research updated August 10, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Words of Wisdom: Buddhist Calligraphy from Japan (April 1, 2023 to February 25, 2024)

  An Invitation to Tea (November 9, 1996 to April 26, 1998)

  Japanese and Chinese Lacquer (September 22, 1982 to June 30, 1983)

  Japanese Lacquer (18 May 1980 to 15 June 1980)

  Japanese Lacquer (April 16, 1979 to October 8, 1980)

  Chinese and Japanese Art--Lacquer and Paintings (August 18, 1967 to October 14, 1969)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Oriental Art Gallery (New York)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• 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.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1300s, 1560s

• Name

  Seo, Joseph U.

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Muromachi period (1333 - 1573), Japanese Art, Lacquer

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)