Tea bowl, copy of Kaga Koetsu, named Chigusa, unknown Raku ware workshop

Tea bowl, vertical incisions on sides. Named Chigusa.
Clay: soft, grayish. Raku type.
Glaze: brilliant, mingled autumnal reds, yellows, greens, and browns; crackled. Red slip brushed under clear glaze.

Maker(s)
Artist: Style of Hon'ami Kōetsu 本阿弥光悦 , by an unknown professional potter (1558-1637)
Historical period(s)
Edo period, 19th century
Medium
Earthenware with red slip under clear lead glaze
Style
Raku ware, unknown workshop
Dimensions
H x Diam: 9.9 × 13 cm (3 7/8 × 5 1/8 in)
Geography
Japan, Kyoto
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1900.81
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Tea bowl

Keywords
copy, Edo period (1615 - 1868), Japan, Raku ware, tea
Provenance

Ikeda Seisuke (1839-1900), Kyoto [1]

To 1900
Bunkio Matsuki (1867-1940), Boston, to 1900 [2]

From 1900 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Bunkio Matsuki in 1900 [3]

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

Notes:

[1] According to Curatorial Remark 1 in the object record.

[2] See Original Pottery List, L. 793, 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)

Ikeda Seisuke 1839-1900
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919
Bunkio Matsuki (C.L. Freer source) 1867-1940

Description

Tea bowl, vertical incisions on sides. Named Chigusa.
Clay: soft, grayish. Raku type.
Glaze: brilliant, mingled autumnal reds, yellows, greens, and browns; crackled. Red slip brushed under clear glaze.

Label

The tea bowl named Kaga Koetsu is perhaps the most frequently copied tea bowl of those made by Hon'ami Koetsu (1558-1637). Details of this copy, including faithful replication of the scar on the base created by a circular firing support, suggest that its maker (probably a professional potter) had studied the original.

Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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