Page 58 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

THE CATALOGUE
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unglazed, but differ from the Korean and similar pottery in Japan by having a basal
ring rudely welded, the base showing thread-marks. Vessels of this character are all
roughly potted. The objects are found on the sites of ancient ovens, and probably
represent the early attempts of Japanese potters breaking away from Korean models.

173' Shallow bowl. D. 6| in. Rudely potted. Hard light brownish clay. Inner sur-
face vitrified, basal ring welded to bottom, inside of which is a scroll.
Identical with Ninagawa's type. Part VI., Fig. 6. Ochiai, Owari. Seventh century
174, Similar to last. Indistinct thread-mark on bottom.
Okehazama, Owari. Seventh century
^75' ^7"- Yamato NingiO. Reproduction of clay figures found near Nara, Yamato.
Gift of E. F. Fenollosa. Seventh century

EARLIEST GLAZED POTTERY (Case 2)
177' Fragments of pottery dug up at Shiga, Omi. Hard gray clay, thin watery green
glaze.
Type Ninagawa. Part II., Fig. 2.
178. Fragments of pottery from Emperor's storehouse at Nara. Soft light fawn clay,
light transparent glaze, rich green overglaze in streaks.
Ninagawa believed these to be Chinese.

PROVINCE OF HIZEN

The keramic products of Hizen are known the world over through its
famous porcelain. After China, its " blue and white " and " polychrome "
stand preeminent. During the early days of the Dutch commerce with
Japan, the porcelain ovens near Nagasaki turned out large numbers of huge
vases and plaques made expressly for the Dutch trade. The famous col-
lection at Dresden is made up almost exclusively of these big vases in
polychrome. When one considers the beautiful work, made in accordance
with the refined taste of the Japanese, which the Dutch merchants might
have obtained, the contemplation of the Dresden collection is simply
disheartening.
As the consideration of porcelain does not come within the scope of
. this catalogue, we turn our attention to the soft and hard pottery. Among
the kinds most prized by the Japanese are those which come under the
general name of Karatsu. There certainly could be no greater contrast
than that shown between the exquisite white porcelain and the rough, dark,
and archaic-looking bowls and jars of Karatsu. Of a later date may be