Tea bowl

Tea bowl, ovoidal; low retired foot.
Clay: fine, hard, gray.
Glaze: mirror-black, iridescent; brown rim

Maker(s): Artist: Attributed to Kinkozan Sobei workshop

Historical period(s): Edo period, mid 19th century

Medium: Stoneware with iron glaze

Style: Kyoto ware

Dimensions: H x Diam: 5.9 x 11.8 cm (2 5/16 x 4 5/8 in)

Geography: Japan, Kyoto prefecture, Kyoto, Awata district

Credit Line: Gift of Charles Lang Freer

Accession Number: F1896.54

On View Location: Currently not on view

Classification(s): Ceramic, Vessel

Type: Tea bowl

Keywords: Edo period (1615 - 1868), Japan, Kyoto ware, stoneware, tea

Provenance

To 1896
Rufus E. Moore, New York to 1896 [1]

From 1896 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Rufus E. Moore in 1896 [2]

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

Notes:

[1] See Original Pottery List, L. 383, 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.

Previous Owner(s): Rufus E. Moore (C.L. Freer source) 1840 - 1918
Charles Lang Freer 1854 - 1919

Description: Tea bowl, ovoidal; low retired foot.
Clay: fine, hard, gray.
Glaze: mirror-black, iridescent; brown rim

Label: This simple bowl, attributed to one of the major workships in the Awataguchi district of eastern Kyoto, examplifies the high standard of workmanship of which Kyoto potters were justly proud. The shape and glaze are based on the classic Chinese Chien ware, or Temmoku, tea bowl. Many large Kyoto temples owned hundreds of such bowls for use in entertaining large groups of guests.

Collection Area(s): Japanese Art

Web Resources: Google Cultural Institute

Rights Statement: Copyright with museum

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