Vase with design of dragons chasing flaming jewel

Cylindrical vase.
Clay: hard, dense, gray.
Glaze: clear glaze, slightly yellowish over white slip on exterior. Glaze alone on interior.
Decoration: incised through slip into body. Accented with pale, blue-gray cobalt. Pair of dragons, flaming jewel, auspicious clouds.

Historical period(s)
Edo period, 19th century
Medium
Stoneware with white slip and cobalt pigment under clear glaze
Style
Tsuboya ware
Dimensions
H x Diam: 27 × 13.9 cm (10 5/8 × 5 1/2 in)
Geography
Japan, Okinawa prefecture, Naha, Tsuboya kilns
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1899.8a-b
On View Location
Freer Gallery 12: The Peacock Room Comes to America
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Vase

Keywords
dragon, Edo period (1615 - 1868), Japan, stoneware, Tsuboya ware, white slip
Provenance

?-1899
Yamanaka & Company, New York, method of acquisition unknown [1]

1899-1919
Charles Lang Freer, purchased from Yamanaka & Company [2]

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

Notes:

[1] See invoice from Yamanaka & Co., New York to Mr. Chars. L. Freer, March 6, 1899. The work is identified as "B 6083: 1 Satsuma Vase, gray & pale blue dragon & clouds." Copy in object file.

[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.

Research completed November 18, 2022.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919
Yamanaka and Co. (C.L. Freer source) 1917-1965

Description

Cylindrical vase.
Clay: hard, dense, gray.
Glaze: clear glaze, slightly yellowish over white slip on exterior. Glaze alone on interior.
Decoration: incised through slip into body. Accented with pale, blue-gray cobalt. Pair of dragons, flaming jewel, auspicious clouds.

Published References
  • Robert L. Hobson, Edward S. Morse, Rose Sickler Williams. Chinese, Corean, and Japanese Potteries: Descriptive Catalogue of the Loan Exhibition. Exh. cat. New York, March 2-21, 1914. p. 127, no. 90.
Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
The Story of the Beautiful
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