Page 102 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

THE CATALOGUE
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Kikko and Jiisan hen. (See Suo.) In 1835 he was pursuing his art in Susaka,
Shinano. (See Shinano.) After this he went to Tokyo, and baked in an oven at
Mukojima. He died in Tokyo in 1861. Now, whether this Kikko was the Kikko who
was baking in Osaka in 18 19, or the second or third generation from him, I have never
been able to learn. At present a Raku pottery, with white glaze and round stamp of
Kikko, is being made in Tokyo, whether by a member of the family or a collateral
branch is equally uncertain.
593- Floating turtle. L. 6| in. Thin walls, scales incised. Light fawn clay. Back,
yellowish-fawn glaze shaded with rich brown. Dark brown glossy glaze below, scales lined
with white. Kikko (imp.). ^^^^ 1820

60s
593 594 599
59^-605. Various forms of Kikko illustrating the variety of the work
and the signatures of this oven. 594 Kikko, 605 Jusan, 599 Kosui,
1820-50
Kosuiga and (?)
606. Figure. H. 14 in. Finely modeled. Over-garments dull
black, white under - garment showing at neck and wrists. Naniwa
Hokuensai Choraku tsukuru (inc.). Seal, Choraku (imp.). 1836
Gift of W. S. Bigelow.

SAKURAI (Case 6 and Plate III. 610)
The oven in Sakurai village was first built by one of the Raku
family in the latter part of the last century. (This is the cur-
rent opinion, but the annotated copy of Ninagawa's work states
that Kyuta first started the oven, and the work was afterwards
improved by the assistance of Mokubei and Shuhei.)
The pottery is simple, some pieces having a rich bright glaze
like Takatori, others with a thick white or dull yellow glaze.
Upon some objects is a pine tree roughly sketched, with an
inscription referring to the historical incident of Kusunoki bidding
farewell to his son under a pine tree. This tree was still stand-
ing within recent years. The third generation, Kiyomizu Tajuro,
was at work in 1 878. The pieces are signed Sakurai no Sato.
607. Flower-vase. H. 7 in. Rudely turned and roughly dis-
torted, sliced below. Light gray clay, thick white glaze
with bluish tinge, splash of light green overglaze run-
ning from rim. Sakurai no Sato (imp.). 1830
A unique example of this pottery.
608. Globular jar, with narrow mouth and pot-
tery stopper. H. 3! in. Fine chocolate clay, rich 607 608 606