Water jar in style of Chinese bronze fitting

Archaistic ? Vessel. Lacquer cover.
Surface: lacquered in color. Addition of lacqure, lead, etc.
Decoration: in slight relief. Inscription inside. Bottom dubious.

Historical period(s)
Edo period or Meiji era, 19th century
Medium
Bronze with artificial patina; lacquered wooden lid
Dimensions
H x W: 16.7 x 13.7 cm (6 9/16 x 5 3/8 in)
Geography
Japan
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1904.356a-c
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Vessel
Type

Tea ceremony water jar (mizusashi)

Keywords
Edo period (1615 - 1868), Japan, Meiji era (1868 - 1912), tea, water
Provenance

Mr. Uyeno, Osaka [1]

To 1904
Yamanaka & Company, New York to 1904 [2]

From 1904 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yamanaka & Company in December 1904 [3]

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

Notes:

[1] See Curatorial Remark 11, Louise Cort, March 4, 2011, in the object record.

[2] Undated folder sheet note. Also see, S. I. 2, pg. 16, Original Bronze List, 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)

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

Description

Archaistic ? Vessel. Lacquer cover.
Surface: lacquered in color. Addition of lacqure, lead, etc.
Decoration: in slight relief. Inscription inside. Bottom dubious.

Label

This vessel, which seems to be a Japanese invention for the tea ceremony, is modeled on utilitarian bronze objects of China's Zhou dynasty (1050–221 B.C.E.). The molded design motifs and artificial patina reflect knowledge of Chinese antique bronzes.

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