Object Details
Artist
Ogata Shuhei (1788-1839)
Description
Tea bowl, ovoidal; bold unglazed foot.
Clay: dense, gray-white, showing grayish-buff under glaze.
Glaze: translucent, uneven, crackled
Decoration: over glaze, mouse and flaming jewel; ornamental seal; flecks of gold.
Three seals, one on foot and two on body: Shuhei [Jpn]
Label
Younger brother of Nin'ami Dohachi, Ogata Shuhei allegedly adopted the surname Ogata out of reverence for Ogata Kenzan, the foremost Kyoto potter of the early 18th century. The enamel designs of a rat embracing a flaming jewel and an ornamental seal reading "long life" and "treasure" show that the bowl was intended for use in New Year's festivities beginning a Year of the Rat (possibly 1816 or 1828). Season-specific tea bowls abound among Kyoto decorated ceramics.
Provenance
To 1898
A.D. Vorce and Co., Hartford, CT, to 1898 [1]
From 1898 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from A.D. Vorce and Co. in 1898 [2]
From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]
Notes:
[1] See Original Pottery List, L. 323, 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.
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History
Kyoto Ceramics (November 9, 1984 to April 25, 1985)
Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons in Japanese Art (September 14, 1977 to April 8, 1978)
Previous custodian or owner
A. D. Vorce and Co. (C.L. Freer source)
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Date
early 19th century
Period
Edo period
Accession Number
F1898.130
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Vessel
Medium
Stoneware with enamels over clear glaze
Dimensions
H x Diam: 7.9 × 10.9 cm (3 1/8 × 4 5/16 in)
Style
Kyoto ware
Origin
Kyoto, Kyoto prefecture, Japan
Related Online Resources
Google Arts & Culture
See more items in
National Museum of Asian Art
Data Source
National Museum of Asian Art
Topic
enameling
ceramic
Kyoto ware
Edo period (1615 - 1868)
new year
tea
rat
Japan
stoneware
Japanese Art
Charles Lang Freer collection
Link to Original Record
Record ID
fsg_F1898.130