Page 131 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

PROVINCE OF NAGATO 8i

AMAKUSA (Case 8)
Two rude flower-vases in the collection were secured in Higo, and were there
called Amakusa pottery. They are unsigned and have no special merit.
905. Flower-vase. H. 7^ in. Reddish clay, dark golden-brown underglaze, middle glaze
purplish and mottled. On neck rich white overglaze flecked with blue. i860
906. Flower-vase. H. 5I in. Clumsy in form, dull coarse light red clay, light olive-green
underglaze, thick white overglaze flecked with fawn and blue. 1880

MATSUMOTO (Case 8)
A potter of Yamaga named Matsumoto has within recent years modeled figures in
clay. Among these is a paper-weight in the form of a toad. The life-like color and
attitude of the creature indicate a skilful modeler.
907. Paper-weight (toad). L. 4 in. Dark slate clay, glaze uncertain. Paint evidently
used in coloring back. Higo Yamaga Matsumoto Chozo (^'ck^.'). 1880
908. Incense-box (frog). L. 3^ in. Coarse brown clay, yellowish-white under-
glaze, green overglaze. Yama (inc.). 1880

KINRYOZAN (Case 8)
ss^
A large shallow bowl, with typical clay and glaze of
Koda, has been made within recent years by a potter who go8
has evidently departed from the traditions of the region.
909. Shallow bowl. D. 5} in. Deep chocolate clay, warm dark gray glaze. Kinryuzan
(imp.). 1880

HIGO IN GENERAL (Case 8)
910. Tea-bowl, with mark Nochi Asahi impressed, said to have been made in
B
Higo in 1880.
910

PROVINCE OF NAGATO

With the exception of the province of Bizen there is no other province
in Japan where there is such uniformity in the general appearance of its pot-
tery as in that of Nagato. A hundred — a thousand — specimens brought
together only make more striking the sHght variation between them. The
Japanese experts seem readily to separate the pottery of Nagato under the
names of Hagi, Matsumoto, and Fukagawa, yet these distinctions become
confusing when a large number of objects is brought together. The dis-
tinctions that they make between Matsumoto and Hagi are frivolous.
Fukagawa certainly has a softer clay. An authority of 1700 mentions