Ginger jar with domed cover, with design of blossoming prunus

Object Details

• Artist

  Style of Miyagawa Kozan (1842-1916)

• Description

  Ginger jar with domed cover, decorated with branches of prunus blossoms and buds. A small version of the classic "ginger jar" shape, with flattened shoulders and globular body tapering into a small foot and narrow footrim. Domed cover fits over an upright neck.

  Clay: Porcelain; footrim slightly chipped and darkened on surface by use.

  Glaze: Colorless glaze evenly applied to exterior, interior and foot; unglazed footrim.

  Decoration: In blue (cobalt) pigment under the glaze. Below a "comb" pattern circling the base of the neck, the body is decorated with prunus blossoms and buds on branches, set against a ground of cobalt wash. Domed cover also ornamented with blossoming prunus set against blue wash ground.

  Mark: none.

• Provenance

  To ?

  Charles M. Kurtz (1855-1909). [1]

  To 1991

  Isabel S. Kurtz (1901-1991). [2]

  From 1991

  Freer Gallery of Art, bequest of Isabel S. Kurtz (1901-1991). [3]

  Notes:

  [1] Ms. Isabel Kurtz bequeathed the group of Asian ceramics, F1991.19-.44, to the Freer Gallery of Art.

  These objects had been collected by her father, Charles M. Kurtz, who was a friend of Charles Freer.

  Also see Curatorial Remark 2 in the object record.

  [2] See note 1. Also see Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List after 1920 file, Collections Management Office.

  [3] See note 2.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Charles M. Kurtz (1855-1909)

  Isabel S. Kurtz (1901-1991)

• Origin

  Kyoto, Japan

• Credit Line

  Bequest of Isabel S. Kurtz

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1910s, 1890s

• Name

  Kurtz, Isabel S., Kurtz, Charles M.

• Place

  Kyoto, Japan

• Topic

  Cobalt pigment, Porcelain, Art, Japanese Art, Meiji era (1868 - 1912)

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)