Container with frog at rim

Light gray clay, darkened on surface by use. Potter’s mark “Shun’u,” without frame, impressed on base to right. Clear ash glaze under copper-green (rusu) glaze streaked with bluish white, forming thick welt just above base. Clear glaze on inside. Relief figure of tiny frog climbing over rim. With ivory lid.

… Read More

Maker(s)
Artist: Kato Buemon (Shun'u) (d. 1827)
Historical period(s)
Edo period, 1770-1827
Medium
Stoneware with copper-green glaze
Style
Seto ware
Dimensions
H x Diam: 10.8 Ă— 6.1 cm (4 1/4 Ă— 2 3/8 in)
Geography
Japan, Aichi prefecture, Seto
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1898.446a-b
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Container

Keywords
Edo period (1615 - 1868), frog, Japan, Seto ware, stoneware, tea
Provenance

To 1898
Japanese Trading Company, New York to 1898 [1]

From 1898 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Japanese Trading Company in 1898 [2]

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

Notes:

[1] See Original Pottery List, L. 739, 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)

Japanese Trading Company (C.L. Freer source)
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919

Description

Light gray clay, darkened on surface by use. Potter's mark "Shun'u," without frame, impressed on base to right. Clear ash glaze under copper-green (rusu) glaze streaked with bluish white, forming thick welt just above base. Clear glaze on inside. Relief figure of tiny frog climbing over rim. With ivory lid.

Inscription(s)

(Louise A. Cort, from Seto and Mino Ceramics, 1992) Potter's mark, "Shun'u," without frame, impressed on base to right.

Published References
  • Louise Allison Cort. Seto and Mino Ceramics. Washington and Honolulu, 1992. cat. 65, p. 141.
Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. 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 Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Request Permission | Terms of Use