Flower vase with auspicious decor in overglaze enamels

Vase in Qing style. Broken into many pieces and mended.
Clay: hard, grayish stoneware.
Glaze: colorless transparent glaze over white slip on body, over clay on base.
Decoration: in iron brown under glaze and red, yellow, green, blue and purple enamels over glaze. Four characters. Incised details. Central design of two Chinese-style Islands of the Immortals alternating with leaping fish among flaming clouds and astronomical patterns. Four characters within cartouches in wide band below neck; lotus petal band around base.

ā€¦ Read More

Maker(s)
Artist: Imitation of Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743) Kyoto workshop
Historical period(s)
Meiji era, 19th century
Medium
Buff clay with white slip and iron pigment under transparent glaze, enamels over the glaze
Dimensions
H x Diam: 32.3 Ɨ 18.1 cm (12 11/16 Ɨ 7 1/8 in)
Geography
Japan, Kyoto prefecture, Kyoto
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1907.83
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Vase

Keywords
Daoist Immortals, fish, flower, Japan, lotus, Meiji era (1868 - 1912)
Provenance

To 1907
Unidentified owner, Tokyo, Japan, to 1907 [1]

From 1907 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased in Tokyo, Japan, from an unidentified owner in spring of 1907 [2]

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

Notes:

[1] See Original Pottery List, L. 1561, 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)

Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919

Description

Vase in Qing style. Broken into many pieces and mended.
Clay: hard, grayish stoneware.
Glaze: colorless transparent glaze over white slip on body, over clay on base.
Decoration: in iron brown under glaze and red, yellow, green, blue and purple enamels over glaze. Four characters. Incised details. Central design of two Chinese-style Islands of the Immortals alternating with leaping fish among flaming clouds and astronomical patterns. Four characters within cartouches in wide band below neck; lotus petal band around base.

Published References
  • Richard L. Wilson. The Potter's Brush: The Kenzan Style in Japanese Ceramics. Exh. cat. Washington. cat. 37, p. 112.
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