Tea bowl in tenmoku shape

Tea bowl imitating Chinese Sung shape with small foot and finger groove below lip.
Clay: extremely fine white porcelain.
Glaze: clear, feldspathic, fine quality, smooth, glossy. Edge of foot-rim unglazed.
Decoration: delicate and detailed painting in underglaze cobalt blue, clear, vivid and slightly violet tone. Outline and wash. Stylized trefoil and petal bands inside and outside blue lip. Boys at play and flying insects in garden of shrubs, pine and rocks. Double ring band on upper foot and inside at base of foot.

Maker(s)
Artist: Hirado Gasho XIV (1914-2005)
Historical period(s)
Showa era, ca. 1971
Medium
Porcelain with cobalt pigment under clear glaze
Style
Hirado ware
Dimensions
H x W: 6.3 x 11.5 cm (2 1/2 x 4 1/2 in)
Geography
Japan, Nagasaki prefecture, Mikawachi
Credit Line
Anonymous gift
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1978.43
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Tea bowl (tenmoku chawan)

Keywords
cobalt pigment, Hirado ware, insect, Japan, pine tree, porcelain, Showa era (1926 - 1989), tea
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Tea bowl imitating Chinese Sung shape with small foot and finger groove below lip.
Clay: extremely fine white porcelain.
Glaze: clear, feldspathic, fine quality, smooth, glossy. Edge of foot-rim unglazed.
Decoration: delicate and detailed painting in underglaze cobalt blue, clear, vivid and slightly violet tone. Outline and wash. Stylized trefoil and petal bands inside and outside blue lip. Boys at play and flying insects in garden of shrubs, pine and rocks. Double ring band on upper foot and inside at base of foot.

Inscription(s)

1. (L.A. Cort, 8 March 1996) Four-character signature in underglaze blue on base, Hirado Gasho (^j^).

The inscriptions on the wooden lid read:
(front)
(red seal, blurred, possibly Mikawachi-yaki)
Mikawachi-yaki [Mikawachi ware] / Kenjo karako onchawan [presentation tea bowl with design of Chinese children]

(back)
Mukei Bunkazai [Intangible Cultural Property] / Hirado Gasho saku [made by Hirado Gasho] (red seal: Gasho).

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