Page 94 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

$6 THE CATALOGUE

PROVINCE OF TSUSHIMA

The island of Tsushima, lying between the southern end of the Korean
peninsula and Japan, has been for hundreds of years the home of potters
who have followed Korean models in their work. Information in regard to
the early potters and their places of work is meagre. Among the contem-
porary potters of Enshiu's time, seven potters of Tsushima are mentioned
as worthy of recognition. The typical pottery is most characteristic and
unmistakable. The clay is soft, light fawn in color, sometimes with pinkish
areas, often with white Mishima decoration, rarely black, and glaze gener-
ally without lustre. Specimens are occasionally seen which are likely to be
confounded with early Satsuma, or with early Tosa, this confusion resulting
from the Korean strain, if I may use the expression, which runs through all
these essays.

SHIGA (Case 6 and Plate III. 508, 509)
The pottery identified as Shiga is very distinct in its character. It is specially
marked by pinkish tinges and areas in its glaze. No information is at hand in regard
to the early potters of this village.
502. Bowl. D. 5J in. Light fawn clay, thick light gray glaze, with pinkish areas. Inside,
deep pink tinge. Band of fret around rim, and cross-lines, like lattice-work, in white
Mishima on body. 1700
504. Bowl. D. 4I in. Fine reddish clay, thick gray glaze with pinkish areas, crackled.
Decoration of bamboo and poem in white slip. 1750
505. Water-jar, with perforated cylindrical handles, vertical on side. D. 6^ in. Fine
warm fawn clay ; underglaze, transparent ; overglaze, grayish, with warm fawn tinges ; within,
reddish. Decoration of scallops about rim, and bands below in white slip and olive-brown.
1780
506. Square box. W, 2| in. Very thin walls with rounded comers indented. Light fawn
clay, fawn glaze with pinkish tinge. On sides, jewels, and on cover mythological animal in
white Mishima. 1780

507*. Bowl. D. 5]^ in.
508. Hand-warmer (.'), in form of owl. H. 8J in. Fine fawn clay with orange tinge,
thick light gray glaze. 1820
Gift of W, S. Bigelow.
In 1804 a potter named Yoshida Mataichi opened an oven in Shiga, and made
pottery after Korean models. Signatures are rarely seen. He also made porcelain,
using the impressed mark of Shiga.