Page 27 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

INTRODUCTION
7
the lower wheel to be kicked freely. The Korean wheel, as described by
Mr. P. L. Jouy {Science, 1888, p. 144), differs from this in form in having
but one disk, as in the typical Japanese wheel. The potter, on a level with
the wheel, sits on one leg and kicks the wheel with the other leg. The
wheel is pivoted in the centre and rolls on small wheels beneath. North of
Canton I saw a potter's wheel on a level with the potter while sitting, and
a boy stood at one side steadying himself by holding to a fixed bamboo
pole, and with his right foot kicking the disk upon which rested the clay
the potter was manipulating. The ovens are a series of chambers resting
side by side and built against the sloping side of a hill, the lower one being
four or five feet wide, and the other chambers widening gradually, so that
the upper one, which may be the eighth or tenth, is eight or more feet in
width. These have, on their ends, a large opening through which to
charge the chambers, and a smaller opening through which fuel may be
passed. These chambers are connected by openings within. The fire is
started in the lower one, and after burning briskly for a while fuel is added
to the next one in turn, and so on to the upper chamber. In this way all
the heat is utilized. I have drawings of this form of oven from Korea, and
I have seen the same form in China. The ovens seem much more firmly
and substantially built in China than in Japan. There are single round
ovens five or six feet in diameter,' used as mufifles, and for special purposes
of baking. For fine work seggars are used as with us. For the baking
of Raku pottery a small furnace is built in the house, square-box bellows
being used to insure rapid combustion. In many places, as at Koda, near
Yatsushiro, a single range of ovens is used by all the potters in the vicinity,
and the numerous marks used on Yatsushiro and Bizen are called oven
marks, and indicate the work of the individual potter. The tools used by
the potter are of the simplest description. These consist of a few wooden
formers, to shape the inside of a bowl ; long sticks with hooked ends, to
follow along inside a narrow-necked bottle ; a bit of leather, used wet, to
round the edges of bowls and dishes ; a pair of calipers, to secure the
proper diameter; a wire, to separate the piece from the wheel; and other
utensils of equal simplicity.

DECORATION

An explanation of the meaning of the many curious motives employed
by the Japanese in the decoration of pottery would involve an extended
study of Japanese and Chinese mythology, classics, history, symbolism, folk-