Page 41 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

INTRODUCTION 21

hangs a towel. This receptacle may be of iron or stone, though large
pottery vessels are often seen. The stone lanterns which decorate a gar-
den are sometimes made of pottery. Square tiles are sometimes used in
the paths. These I saw specially in the gardens of potters in Kyoto. The
collection contains a large well-wheel of pottery, presented by Mr. S. Bing,
of Paris. Pottery or porcelain garden stools, after Chinese fashion, are not
uncommon.
Medicine

Under this head may be classed pottery vessels made for distilling.
Little jars used for carbonizing frogs, rabbits' skulls, etc., after the Chinese
pharmacopoeia (already doomed in Japan), are made of pottery. A long-
nosed cup from which to pour medicine, mortars for grinding substances,
and objects to be worn on the person, such as neisuke, or inro to hold
powders or pills, are not uncommon.

Pottery-making

The art of the potter brings in a number of pottery utensils. At the
outset the muffles are of pottery ; oven shelves, spurs, and seggars are all
of pottery. Large jars for lixiviation and various other vessels are used in
the potteries.

Miscellaneous

In the shops one sees a great number of objects in the shape of bottles,
boxes, and jars for the holding of various extracts, preserves, cordials, sweet
wines, etc., pottery taking the place of glass for these purposes.
The metallurgist uses crucibles of pottery for the melting of metals, the
accidental oxidations of which have, in past times, given a hint for new
glazes, and the colored residuum often left in the bottom of the crucible
the suggestion of various alloys for the inlaying of their metal work.
The farmers use a heavy jar in which to sprout seed. Along the streets
large water-jars are seen for the convenience of street sprinkling and for
fire precautions.
The objects thus far mentioned do not by any means include all the
devices made in pottery. No record has been made of the pottery utensils
used by the inkmaker, the lacquerer, and those seen in other trades and
occupations; sufificient examples, however, have been cited to show the
infinite variety of uses to which pottery is applied in Japan.