Tea bowl in tenmoku shape

Object Details

• Artist

  Hirado Gasho XIV (1914-2005)

• Description

  Tea bowl imitating Chinese Sung shape with small foot and finger groove below lip.

  Clay: extremely fine white porcelain.

  Glaze: clear, feldspathic, fine quality, smooth, glossy. Edge of foot-rim unglazed.

  Decoration: delicate and detailed painting in underglaze cobalt blue, clear, vivid and slightly violet tone. Outline and wash. Stylized trefoil and petal bands inside and outside blue lip. Boys at play and flying insects in garden of shrubs, pine and rocks. Double ring band on upper foot and inside at base of foot.

• Inscriptions

  1. (L.A. Cort, 8 March 1996) Four-character signature in underglaze blue on base, Hirado Gasho (^j^).

  The inscriptions on the wooden lid read:

  (front)

  (red seal, blurred, possibly Mikawachi-yaki)

  Mikawachi-yaki [Mikawachi ware] / Kenjo karako onchawan [presentation tea bowl with design of Chinese children]

  (back)

  (back)

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Origin

  Mikawachi, Nagasaki prefecture, Japan

• Credit Line

  Anonymous gift

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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