Page 21 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

INTRODUCTION

Sources of Information
The difficulties in the way of acquiring reliable information upon the
subject of Japanese pottery are very great. The work of Ninagawa Nori-
tane, entitled Kwan Ko Dzu Setsu, 1876-79, embraces much of the definite
information contained in previous works on the subject. Kogei Shirio, a
hand-book issued by the National Museum in Tokyo, gives in a condensed
form much of the matter found in Ninagawa's work. Later editions of
Kogei Skirio add a few potteries from additional provinces. There are
many copies in MSS. by different writers to be found, but these give
little information not presented by later works. In native documents of
this kind, both published and in MSS., the information about Japanese
pottery never seems to go beyond a certain number of potters limited to
a certain number of provinces ; and Ninagawa, in his work, has brought
nearly all this information together, and added to it the fruits of much
correspondence, and the results of many long journeys in quest of material.
The only publications of merit in English on Japanese pottery are, almost
item for item, a translation of Kwan Ko Dzu Setsu or of Kogei Shirio, usu-
ally without a word of credit being accorded to these works : the two nota-
ble exceptions are fapanese Pottery : Being a Native Report, edited by Sir
Augustus W. Franks, and issued as a South Kensington Art Handbook;
and Thomas E. Waggaman's catalogue, compiled and edited by H. Shugio.
The student will find a most appreciative chapter on Japanese pottery by
Mr. Charles Holme in the second edition of fapan and its Art, by Mr.
Marcus B. Huish. I would also mention an interesting little handbook,
La Ceramique faponais, by Mr, O. Tokunosuke and Mons. E, Deshayes, and
the chapters on pottery in L'Art fap07tais, by Mons. Louis Gonse, and in
Artistic fapan, by Mons. S. Bing. I have derived much information from
Ninagawa's private copy of his work, containing important additions and
corrections by the author, as well as from MSS. letters and memoranda which
came into my possession immediately after the death of this lamented anti-
quarian. I have also secured additional information from Bampo Zensho^
1705 Ko Kon Meibutsu Riushiu, 1787 ; Tokiko, 1853; Kenzan Yaki Yaki
;