Set of six sake or sencha cups with slip design and inscription

Small ovoidal, on bold, unglazed foot.
Clay: thin, grayish, Raku-type earthenware.
Glaze: brilliant iridescent lead glaze; cream hakeme over warm gray.
Belonging to a set: F1904.429.1-8 (given to Freer as a group but unrelated to other pieces in “set”).

Maker(s)
Artist: Miura Ken'ya (1821-1889)
Historical period(s)
Meiji era, late 19th century
Medium
Brown clay with white slip and iron pigment under transparent lead glaze
Dimensions
H x Diam (overall): 4.3 x 7.9 cm (1 11/16 x 3 1/8 in)
Geography
Japan, Tokyo
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1904.429.8
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Sake cup (choko)

Keywords
Japan, Meiji era (1868 - 1912), sake
Provenance

To 1904
Kosa Honma (1842-1909), to 1904 [1]

From 1904 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), given by Kosa Honma in 1904 [2]

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

Notes:

[1] See Original Pottery List, L. 1310, 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)

Honma Kosa (C.L. Freer source) 1842-1909
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919

Description

Small ovoidal, on bold, unglazed foot.
Clay: thin, grayish, Raku-type earthenware.
Glaze: brilliant iridescent lead glaze; cream hakeme over warm gray.
Belonging to a set: F1904.429.1-8 (given to Freer as a group but unrelated to other pieces in "set").

Inscription(s)

In iron on outside and incised just outside footrim: "Popular sentiment represents the will of Heaven"

Label

This cup was made for serving Chinese-style steeped tea. The inscription on the cup reads: The will of the people is the will of Heaven.

Published References
  • Louise Allison Cort. Korean Influences in Japanese Ceramics. vol. 15, no. 5 Hong Kong, May 1984. p. 29.
  • Mitake Hideyuki. "尾形乾山を引き継いだ陶芸家たち: 三浦乾也一門 =." Potter of Ogata Kenzan believers: Miura Kenya and his partners. Tokyo. p. 35, no. 94.
  • Richard L. Wilson. The Potter's Brush: The Kenzan Style in Japanese Ceramics. Exh. cat. Washington. cat. 47, p. 123.
Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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