Tea caddy, imo-no-ko type

Light gray clay; surface concealed by iron wash. Concentrically trimmed base with scars of gravel.
Iron glaze, mottled reddish brown to black, over iron wash; two finger marks in lower edge of glaze. Inside glazed.

ā€¦ Read More

Historical period(s)
Momoyama period, 1570-1580
Medium
Stoneware with iron and ash glazes; ivory lid
Style
Mino ware
Dimensions
H x Diam: 7.6 Ɨ 7.3 cm (3 Ɨ 2 7/8 in)
Geography
Japan, Gifu prefecture, Mino kilns
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1905.47a-b
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Tea caddy (imo-no-ko chaire)

Keywords
Japan, Momoyama period (1573 - 1615), Seto ware, stoneware, tea
Provenance

To 1905
Thomas E. Waggaman (1839-1906), Washington, DC, to 1905 [1]

From 1905 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased at the sale of the Waggaman Collection, American Art Association, New York, NY, January 25-February 3, 1905, no. 1904 [2]

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

Notes:

[1] See Original Pottery List, L. 1360, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Also see Curatorial Remark 11, Louise Cort, June 17, 2008, in the object record.

[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)

Thomas E. Waggaman 1839-1906
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919
American Art Association (C.L. Freer source) established 1883

Description

Light gray clay; surface concealed by iron wash. Concentrically trimmed base with scars of gravel.
Iron glaze, mottled reddish brown to black, over iron wash; two finger marks in lower edge of glaze. Inside glazed.

Label

A thin coat of iron wash on this jar enriches the color of the iron glaze and conceals the light gray clay body, creating a uniform dark tone. Such attention to details marks the transformation of the Seto tea caddy from a utilitarian container to a sculptural object.

Published References
  • Louise Allison Cort. Seto and Mino Ceramics. Washington and Honolulu, 1992. cat. 55, p. 130.
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