Sake bottle in form of eggplant, with design of Mt. Fuji and seal “falcon”

Sake bottle in egg-plant form.
Clay: dense, resonant, buff. Formed in mold.
Glaze: rich mottled green over aubergine. Lead glaze. Three tiny spur marks on glazed base.
Decoration: Mt. Fuji molded on side of bottle; “falcon”, rectangular, molded as part of decoration on side of bottle; traces of gilding.
Seal: Taka [JPN]

ā€¦ Read More

Historical period(s)
Edo period, 19th century
Medium
Stoneware with lead enamel glazes
Style
Kyoto ware
Dimensions
H x Diam: 15.1 Ɨ 7.9 cm (5 15/16 Ɨ 3 1/8 in)
Geography
Japan, Kyoto prefecture, Kyoto
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1903.277
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Sake bottle (tokkuri)

Keywords
Edo period (1615 - 1868), Japan, Kyoto ware, sake, stoneware, wine
Provenance

Mr. Funahashi, Kyoto [1]

To 1903
Bunkio Matsuki (1867-1940), Boston, to 1903 [2]

From 1903 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Bunkio Matsuki in 1903 [3]

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

Notes:

[1] Curatorial Remarks, Louise A. Cort, 1986: Freer acquired, through Matsuki, five pieces from the Funahashi collection (F1903.275--F1903.279). An undated "List of Shipment" from Matsuki (Matsuki letter no. 30) gives the following: "Following five important pottery are from the sale of Late Mr. Funahashi of Kioto famous wholesale silk dealer for many generation. The sale was under the management of Mr. Shinsuke Hayashi from whom your great Sotatsu screen came."

[2] See Original Pottery List, L. 1277, 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)

Funahashi
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919
Bunkio Matsuki (C.L. Freer source) 1867-1940

Description

Sake bottle in egg-plant form.
Clay: dense, resonant, buff. Formed in mold.
Glaze: rich mottled green over aubergine. Lead glaze. Three tiny spur marks on glazed base.
Decoration: Mt. Fuji molded on side of bottle; "falcon", rectangular, molded as part of decoration on side of bottle; traces of gilding.
Seal: Taka [JPN]

Marking(s)

Taka [JPN]

Label

The formal metaphor for this sake bottle is "the first dream of the New Year," which, in order to be considered extremely lucky, must include three objects: first, Mt. Fuji; second, a falcon; third, an eggplant. In this mold-formed vessel - quite suitable for pouring a toast at the end of the old year - the bottle itself is shaped as an eggplant, Mt. Fuji appears as a decoration on the side of the bottle, and "Taka" is the character in the seal placed appropriately to the left of the mountain image.

Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
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