Tea bowl with design of cranes and chrysanthemums

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Object Details

Artist

Possibly by Ogata Kenzan 尾形乾山 (1663-1743)

Narutaki workshop (active 1699-1712) or contemporary Kyoto workshop

Description

Clay: buff stoneware.

Glaze: transparent, crackled.

Decoration: white slip and cobalt and iron pigments, under glaze.

Signature.

Signatures

Kenzan

Label

The combination of crane and chrysanthemum has two possible but interrelated nuances. First, it is an auspicious combination, since both bird and flower symbolize longevity. Second, the painting may refer to poems of birds and flowers of the twelve months by Kamakura period poet Fujiwara Teika, demonstrated as a favorite theme in Kenzan ware; the crane and chrysanthemum pairing are used for the tenth month.

Provenance

To 1899

S. Eida, to 1899 [1]

From 1899 to 1919

Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from S. Eida in 1899 [2]

From 1920

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

Notes:

[1] See Original Pottery List, L. 340, 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

Feathered Ink (August 27, 2022 to February 20, 2023)

Arts of Japan: Edo Aviary and Poetic License (February 2 to August 4, 2013)

The Potter's Brush: The Kenzan Style in Japanese Ceramics (December 9, 2001 to October 27, 2002)

Previous custodian or owner

S. Eida (C.L. Freer source)

Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

Credit Line

Gift of Charles Lang Freer

Date

1699-1712

Period

Edo period

Accession Number

F1899.98

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Vessel

Medium

Buff clay; white slip, iron and cobalt pigments under transparent glaze

Dimensions

H x Diam: 7.2 × 10.4 cm (2 13/16 × 4 1/8 in)

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

ceramic

crane

Edo period (1615 - 1868)

chrysanthemum

tea

Japan

Japanese Art

Charles Lang Freer collection

Metadata Usage