Nabeshima ware dish molded in form of spray of cherry blossoms

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.

Historical period(s)
Edo period, 1647-1670
Medium
Molded porcelain with cobalt pigment under clear glaze, enamels over the glaze
Style
Arita ware, Nabeshima type
Dimensions
H x W x D: 3.6 x 16.7 x 13.2 cm (1 7/16 x 6 9/16 x 5 3/16 in)
Geography
Japan, Saga prefecture, Imari
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1907.532
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Dish

Keywords
Arita ware, Nabeshima type, cherry blossom, Edo period (1615 - 1868), Japan, porcelain
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.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Kato Family
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919

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.

Inscription(s)

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"
(See Curatorial Remark number 6)

Published References
  • Oriental Ceramics: The World's Great Collections. 12 vols., Tokyo. vol. 10, pl. 183.
  • Louise Allison Cort. The Artist in Edo. Washington. p. 16, figs. 5-6.
  • Constance Bond. Daimyo's Choice at the Freer. Washington, April 1986. p. 162.
Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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