Jar

Wheel-thrown jar with broad, flat base, rounded walls, conical inverted neck, flat, thick, everted rim. Body possibly stretched at end of forming process by throwing from inside only, without compressing outside surface: this created the open texture of the upper body.

Bizen stoneware clay, dense, dark brown, containing numerous small stones. Exposed surface of clay on lower vessel wall burned to glossy reddish-purple sheen. S-shaped drying crack in base.

No applied glaze. Dusting of wood ash deposited during firing on upper edge of rim and upper surface of body, appearing ochre-brown.

No decoration.

Artist’s mark incised on base.

Maker(s)
Artist: Fujiwara Kei 藤原啓 (1899-1983)
Historical period(s)
Showa era, ca. 1955-1965
Medium
Stoneware with natural ash glaze
Style
Bizen ware
Dimensions
H x Diam (overall): 24.9 x 23.9 cm (9 13/16 x 9 7/16 in)
Geography
Japan, Okayama prefecture, Imbe
Credit Line
Gift of Sanae and Douglas Reeves
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1997.45
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Jar

Keywords
Bizen ware, Japan, Showa era (1926 - 1989), stoneware
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Wheel-thrown jar with broad, flat base, rounded walls, conical inverted neck, flat, thick, everted rim. Body possibly stretched at end of forming process by throwing from inside only, without compressing outside surface: this created the open texture of the upper body.

Bizen stoneware clay, dense, dark brown, containing numerous small stones. Exposed surface of clay on lower vessel wall burned to glossy reddish-purple sheen. S-shaped drying crack in base.

No applied glaze. Dusting of wood ash deposited during firing on upper edge of rim and upper surface of body, appearing ochre-brown.

No decoration.

Artist's mark incised on base.

Inscription(s)

The jar is contained in a paulownia wood box inscribed and signed by the artist. The inscription on the top of the lid reads: (upper right) Bizen no tsubo [Bizen jar]; (lower left) Kei [square red seal: Kei].

Marking(s)

Artist's mark incised on base.

Published References
  • Inui Yoshiaki. Nihon no toji: Gendai hen. 8 vols., Tokyo. vol. 3: pp. 114-126, 238-239, 240-241, pl. 2.
  • Gendai no togei. vol. 7, Tokyo. pp. 17-40.
  • Thomas Lawton, Thomas W. Lentz. Beyond the Legacy: Anniversary Acquisitions for the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. vol. 1 Washington, 1998. p. 336.
Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Whistler's Neighborhood
Google Cultural Institute
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