Tea caddy, named Karaneko (Chinese cat)

Clay: dense, white. Orange flush at edge of glaze.
Glaze: white, semi-opaque (rice-straw ash); crackled
Broad splash of seal-brown
Decoration: single incised line around waist of jar

Maker(s)
Artist: Style of Nonomura Ninsei (active ca. 1646-77)
Historical period(s)
Edo period, 19th century
Medium
Stoneware with rice-straw ash and iron glazes; ivory lid
Style
Kyoto ware
Dimensions
H x Diam: 6.4 × 7.2 cm (2 1/2 × 2 13/16 in)
Geography
Japan, Kyoto prefecture, Kyoto
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1900.84a-b
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Tea caddy (chaire)

Keywords
Edo period (1615 - 1868), Japan, Kyoto ware, stoneware, 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. 797, 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

Clay: dense, white. Orange flush at edge of glaze.
Glaze: white, semi-opaque (rice-straw ash); crackled
Broad splash of seal-brown
Decoration: single incised line around waist of jar

Published References
  • Warren E. Cox. The Book of Pottery and Porcelain. 2 vols., New York. vol. 1: p. 244, pl. 77.
Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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