Ember pot or incense burner

Buff clay. Three holes in bottom, drilled after firing and subsequently refilled.
Molasses-brown iron glaze on outside only, splashed on one lobe with white rice-straw ash (unofu) glaze and on opposite side with copper-green tinted rice-straw ash (Agano) glaze. Thin iron wash brushed randomly on inside.
Base unglazed, darkened by use. Three flattened conical feet; two lion-head lugs.

Historical period(s)
Edo period, 1800-1868
Medium
Stoneware with iron, rice-straw-ash, and copper-green glazes
Style
Seto ware
Dimensions
H x W x D: 15.7 x 19.1 x 19.1 cm (6 3/16 x 7 1/2 x 7 1/2 in)
Geography
Japan, Aichi prefecture, Seto, Yuemon or related kiln
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1901.44a-b
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Ember pot (hiire) or incense burner (koro)

Keywords
Edo period (1615 - 1868), incense, Japan, Seto ware, stoneware
Provenance

To 1901
R. Wagner, Berlin, to 1901 [1]

From 1901 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from R. Wagner in 1901 [2]

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

Notes:

[1] See Original Pottery List, L. 908, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

[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.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

R. Wagner (C.L. Freer source)
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919

Description

Buff clay. Three holes in bottom, drilled after firing and subsequently refilled.
Molasses-brown iron glaze on outside only, splashed on one lobe with white rice-straw ash (unofu) glaze and on opposite side with copper-green tinted rice-straw ash (Agano) glaze. Thin iron wash brushed randomly on inside.
Base unglazed, darkened by use. Three flattened conical feet; two lion-head lugs.

Published References
  • Louise Allison Cort. Seto and Mino Ceramics. Washington and Honolulu, 1992. cat. 97, p. 185.
Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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