Page 23 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

INTRODUCTION "
3
With this explanation I venture to offer this catalogue, which includes
much that is already known, and some information which may prove new
even to Japanese experts.
For the erroneous attributions and blunders which are sure to be found
in this catalogue, I can only say that in the one case it will not be the result
of haste ; and in the other I have only to quote a reviewer in the London
AthencEum, who has most truly recognized the conditions involved in a
work of this nature, as follows : " One of the ablest students of our time
said seriously, ' If you are seeking renown on account of extreme exactness
in literary work, and in doing homage to what has been fantastically called
the " rod of accuracy," try a little cataloguing. If that does not check your
vanity, make you charitable towards the blunders of others, and convince
you that it is human to err, never trust my word again.'

As to Names

Much confusion exists among the Japanese experts in regard to the
proper designation of different kinds of pottery. A number of names are
often applied to the same pottery ; and again, a number of distinct kinds
are united under a single name. In such cases I have given preference to
that name which is indicated by the mark it bears. For example, a pottery
bearing the impressed mark Otafuku is known by that name, but more
commonly it is spoken of as Daigo pottery, from the region in Ky5to where
it is made ; in this case the name Otafuku will be retained for this pottery.
Again, the product of a family of potters may be known under a number of
names, as a variety of marks were used in the work. Thus the marks
Toyosuke, Toyohachi, Horaku, and others are found on the work of Toyo-
suke of Nagoya; in this case the name Toyosuke alone will be retained.
Ninagawa had always supposed that the name Zentokoro referred to the
product of a single kiln, but on personal inquiry of Mr. Shibata, a former
official of Zentokoro, he learned that this name included a number of
quite distinct potters and widely separated ovens, such as Oye, Seta, and
Bairin, as these various ovens belonged to the land area owned by the
Zentokoro family. As these potters varied in origin and method, the names
will be considered separately, and not as Zentokoro. As to geographical
names, pottery is sometimes known by the name of the town where it is
sold, and not by the name of the place of baking. Thus Koda pottery is
known throughout Japan as Yatsushiro. Yet in the province it is known
as Koda. Arita is known as Imari. A parallel case is seen in Europe,
where the pottery made in Meissen is known as Dresden, at which place
the product is sold.