Page 121 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

PROVINCE OF HIGO
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PROVINCE OF HIGO

The pottery of Higo, as we know it to-day through the exquisite produc-
tions of Koda, began with the introduction of Korean potters after the
Japanese invasion of Korea in the last years of the sixteenth century.
Before this, tea utensils after Seto models were probably made. Ante-
dating these by untold centuries, however, the platycnemic savage had left
the evidences of his rude skill in the shell heaps. Hosakawa Sansai
brought back from Korea potters who were first settled in Agano, Buzen.
Afterwards they were brought to Koda, near Yatsushiro, and here they
began the making of pottery which has continued to the present day. At
the outset the work was rude. At what date the Mishima type of decora-
tion began to be made it is difficult to say. A Japanese authority of 1700
says, " Nothing is baked in Higo but tea-jars, and these are made in great
quantities." But little reliance can be placed on this statement, as he was
a Chajin, and consequently ignored the pottery of the people.

'
HIGO (Case 8 and Plate IV. 799)
Under the provincial name must be included the tea-jars, as they represent the
earliest glazed pottery in the collection. The Japanese experts identify a number of
these tea-jars as Higo-Satsuma, for what reason I could never clearly understand.

798. Tea-jar (melon-shaped). H. 3 in. Gray clay, dull dark chocolate-black glaze with
lighter areas. 1500
799- Globular tea-jar, H. 2J in. Fine light brown clay, deep chocolate-brown glaze,
slight lustre, mottled. Right-hand thread-mark. 1600
Type Ninagawa. Part III., Fig. 23.
800-802. Tea-jars. 1600

803. Globular tea-jar. Very hard light brown clay, overglaze light olive mottled. 1630
804-810. Tea-jars. 1680-1780
811. Circular dish, modeled by hand. D. 4 in. Hard fawn clay, thick chocolate-brown
glaze with large areas of olive-green glaze mottled. 178°

HIGO CELADON (Case 8)
812. Flower-holder. H. 4 in. Dark brown clay, rich greenish celadon glaze, coarsely
crackled. Obscure figures rudely impressed. 17°°
813. Incense-burner (?). D. 4^ in. Hard white stone clay, thin dull green celadon
glaze. On sloping shoulder band of flowers and scrolls deeply cut. i73°