Dish with molded and painted decor

Dish, circular; low foot.
Paste: hard, fine. Porcelain.
Glaze: blue-white, crackled.
Decoration: (1) in two tones of cobalt blue, under glaze; (2) molded in paste.
Mark: written on base.

Historical period(s)
Edo period, 1650-1670
Medium
Molded porcelain with cobalt pigment under clear, colorless glaze
Style
Arita ware
Dimensions
H x Diam: 3.8 × 15.5 cm (1 1/2 × 6 1/8 in)
Geography
Japan, Saga prefecture, Arita
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1907.528a-c
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Dish

Keywords
Arita ware, Edo period (1615 - 1868), Japan, porcelain
Provenance

Kato family, Japan [1]

To 1907
Unidentified owner, Japan, to 1907 [2]

From 1907 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased in Japan from an unidentified owner in 1907 [3]

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

Notes:

[1] According to Curatorial Remark 5, L.A. Cort, 1982, in the object record (and quoting from the "Boxed In" exhibition label): "The lid of the box containing this charming mixed set of five small plates relates that they were assembled by one Kato, possibly as early as the 18th century, and treasured by his heirs." The inscription states that this object was "One of the treasures of the Kato house" (see Curatorial Remark 4, L.A. Cort, 1982, in the object record).

[2] See Original Pottery List, L. 1580, 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)

Kato Family
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919

Description

Dish, circular; low foot.
Paste: hard, fine. Porcelain.
Glaze: blue-white, crackled.
Decoration: (1) in two tones of cobalt blue, under glaze; (2) molded in paste.
Mark: written on base.

Inscription(s)

The small ceramic plates F1907.528-532 were purchased as a set that had been put together in Japan. On the interior of the lid for the box that contained them was the following inscription:
Toriawase mukozuke sara [Jpn] Assembled side dishes followed by identification of the five plates. This plate was identified as:
Fukushu yaki unryu-gata [Jpn] "Fukien ware cloud-and-dragon shape."

Kato-ke chinpo no uchi [Jpn] "One of the treasures of the Kato house."

Marking(s)

Mark: Fuku, inside square frame, written in cobalt on base.

Label

The first Arita porcelain kilns began operating in the opening years of the 17th century.  The white clay from the Izumiyama mine became a vehicle for many distinct varieties of decorative styles and pallettes of enamel colors, directed at both domestic and foreign markets.

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