Page 73 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

PROVINCE OF HIZEN ;
43
307. Covered jar. H. 4f in. Reddish-brown clay, splaslies of olive-brown glaze, flecked
with fawn on cover and shoulder ; on upper portion and cover, squares, dots, jewels, etc.
and around body running vine, sharply impressed. 1800
308. Bottle. H. 7I in. Coarse light red clay; underglaze dull reddish-brown; thick
black glaze running from neck, ending in long light blue drops. 1840
309. Bottle. H. 6| in. Light brown clay ; underglaze, around base only, dull brown
;
middle glaze, light yellow ; overglaze mottled green running in long streams to base. 1840
310. Shallow dish. D. 7I in. 1840
311. Handled tea-jar. H. 2f in. 1850

KUROMUTA (Case 4)
On the authority of an intelligent potter of Hizen, the following objects are
classed as having been made in the village of Kuromuta.
312. Bottle. H. 8 in. Globular body, long cylindrical neck. Fine reddish-brown clay,
thick gray underglaze ; irregular splashes of light fawn overglaze. 1780
313- Bottle, with thickened rim. H. 3 in. Fine hard brown clay, cold gray glaze with
splashes of dark and greenish-gray overglaze. 1780
314- Jar. H. 2| in. Fine reddish clay, light brown glaze with irregular splashes of
thick white overglaze. 1800
GOROSHICHI (Case 4 and Plate I. 315)
The records as given by Ninagawa and others state that Goroshichi Takada, in
1530, made the first "blue and white" soft pottery in Hizen. It is also recorded that
Goroshichi and his brother Gorohachi were pupils of the famous Shonsui. As regards
the last statement, Mr. Hiromichi Shugi5, a distinguished expert in these matters,
and a native of Hizen, can find no reliable evidence that Shonsui ever made pottery in
Hizen, or taught the art in that province. Goroshichi's pottery is found chiefly in the
form of large tea-bowls ; and so famous was this work that the name Goroshichi
became synonymous with tea-bowls of large size.
315- Tea-bowl. D. 5 in. Fine light gray-drab clay, rich white glaze, finely crackled.
Underglaze decoration of conventional flowers and scrolls in dark and light blue. 1530
Type Ninagawa. Part V., Fig. 26.
316. Tea-bowl. D. 5 in. Light brown clay, thick white glaze crackled. Underglaze
decoration of pine, bamboo, and plum in bright blue. Fret about rim in same color. 1530
317- Tea-bowl. D. 4J in. Brownish clay, white glaze, coarsely crackled. Encircling bands
above and below. Clouds, boat, etc., in bright blue. 1530
318. Tea-bowl. D. Sf\ in. Hard brown clay, thick white glaze, coarsely crackled. Inside,
light bluish glaze with washes of white overglaze. Pine, bamboo, and crane in blue. 1530
319- Tea-bowl, somewhat irregular in shape. D. 5f in. Coarse fawn clay, white glaze.
Rough decoration of plum-tree in blue. '53°
This may have been made by Gorohachi.