Nabeshima ware dish molded in form of spray of cherry blossoms

Object Details

• Description

  Dish, oval; high, deep foot. Molded in form of spray of cherry blossoms.

  Clay: hard, fine. Porcelain.

  Glaze: transparent, slightly bluish.

  Decoration: blue-green, red, and yellow enamels; dark blue under glaze on foot, rendering blade pattern.

• Inscriptions

  The small ceramic plates F1907.528-532 were purchased as a set that had been put together in Japan. On the interior of the lid for the box that contained them was the following inscription:

  Toriawase mukozuke sara [Jpn] "Assembled side dish plates" followed by identification of the five plates. This plate was identified as:

  Nabeshima-yaki sakura moyo [Jpn] "Nabeshima ware cherry design"

  Kato-ke chinpo no uchi [Jpn] "One of the treasures of the Kato house"

  Kato-ke chinpo no uchi [Jpn] "One of the treasures of the Kato house"

• Provenance

  Kato family, Japan [1]

  To 1907

  Unidentified owner, Japan, to 1907 [2]

  From 1907 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased in Japan from an unidentified owner in 1907 [3]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [4]

  Notes:

  [1] According to F1907.530, Curatorial Remark 7, L.A. Cort, 1982, in the object record (and quoting from the "Boxed In" exhibition label): "The lid of the box containing this charming mixed set of five small plates relates that they were assembled by one Kato, possibly as early as the 18th century, and treasured by his heirs." That inscription states that this object was "One of the treasures of the Kato house" (see Curatorial Remark 6, L.A. Cort, 1982, in the object record).

  [2] See Original Pottery List, L. 1580, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [3] See note 2.

  [4] 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.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Arts of Japan (July 14, 2012 to January 13, 2013)

  Seasons: Arts of Japan (February 5, 2011 to January 13, 2013)

  Cornucopia: Ceramics of Southern Japan (December 19, 2009 to January 9, 2011)

  Dinner for Five: Japanese Serving Dishes for Elegant Meals (March 4 to October 21, 2001)

  Garden Potteries and Official Kilns: Clan-Sponsored Ceramics in the Edo Period (January 16, 1986 to November 3, 1986)

  Varieties of 17th-Century Arita Porcelain (November 7, 1986 to July 19, 1988)

  Boxed In: Japanese Ceramics and Their Storage Boxes (September 23, 1982 to February 17, 1983)

  Japanese Ceramics (June 22, 1982 to September 27, 1982)

  Japanese Ceramics/Puppets (June 16, 1980 to July 14, 1980)

  Japanese Ceramics (July 15, 1980 to June 21, 1982)

  Japanese Ceramics (April 11, 1978 to January 17, 1980)

  Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons in Japanese Art (September 14, 1977 to April 8, 1978)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 3 and 4 (February 25, 1956 to January 1, 1963)

  Untitled Exhibition, Japanese Art, 1955 (October 25, 1955 to November 22, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Japanese Art (October 3, 1947 to February 25, 1956)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Kato Family

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Imari, Saga prefecture, Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1840s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Kato Family

• Place

  Imari, Japan, Saga prefecture

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Porcelain, Art, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Arita ware, Nabeshima type, Cherry blossom, Ceramics

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)