Page 49 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

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KOREAN POTTERY 39

Loaned by Percival Lowell, Esq.
A gift from the King of Korea to Mr. Lowell during his visit to Korea, when he was
appointed Foreign Secretary to the first Korean Embassy to the United States.

SONG-DO POTTERY (Case i)
The following pieces (Cat. Nos. 57 to 6y) were purchased from a Korean official in
SoUl in 1885 by an officer of the United States Navy. The Korean official had
obtained them from a Korean of Song-do, in whose family they had been for many
years. An ancestor had dug them from the ruins of the ancient royal palace in Song-do
from a part of the site which he owned. Song-do was the Korean capital for about
eight himdred years prior to five hundred years ago. The Koreans regarded the
pottery as about eight hundred years old. I have given a more conservative estimate
by indicating an age of six hundred years, though it might be safe to adjudge it of
a later date. The character of the work is so unlike Korean Mishima that one might
be justified in regarding it as of Chinese origin, and suggesting the idea that the
Korean Mishima was derived from the same source. The clay is hard and ringing,
and the glaze is a grayish or greenish celadon. The Mishima designs are in white
and black.
57* Vase. H. 14I in. Swelling body, tapering gracefully to a narrow base. Opening
small, neck short and constricted, with definite rim. Clay fawn-colored, hard, and fine
thick greenish celadon glaze, brownish area closely crackled. Decoration of cloud and
crane in black and white Mishima. Base uneven. 1200
58. Vase. H. io| in. Similar in form to last. Decoration of flowers and cranes, with
band of oblique fretwork about neck and base, with scalloped design on shoulder.
All in black and white Mishima. Mark incised and obscure. 1200

59* Shallow dish. D. •j\ in. Hard reddish clay, greenish celadon glaze
coarsely crackled. Inside, design of leaves in slight relief. Three small spur-
58
marks. 1200
DO. Oviform water-vessel, with nozzle and delicate looped handle. H. 7 in. Hard
light reddish clay, greenish celadon glaze. Constricted neck with low cover. On each side
large circular panels ; in one, floral design ; in the other, willow ; on front, cloud, all incised.
Handle and nozzle spring from deeply incised escutcheon design. Handle ribbed and
having above a small loop and projecting knob. Cover with rough scrollwork in white
Mishima. Five rough traces of spur-marks. Bottom unglazed. 1200

61. Shallow dish, with slightly flaring sides. D. 4I in. Hard ringing clay, gray celadon
glaze, crackled in parts. Five conventional flowers, equidistant, in black and white Mishima.
The same number, inside, in white Mishima, and on bottom, inside, rosette of scrolls, etc., in
white Mishima. Three ragged spur-marks. 1200
62. Shallow dish, with flattened projecting rim. D. 5^ in. Sides and rim moulded in
eight double scallops, /->-"-^-n. Inside, incised in leaves, scrolls, etc. Greenish celadon glaze.
On bottom three rough spur-marks. 1200