Page 109 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

PROVINCE OF OMI 67

no sign of Omi potters degrading their art by appealing to the extraordi-
nary tastes of foreigners. The typical pottery, Shigaraki, and probably the
oldest pottery in the province (save that mentioned under early historic
pottery), was made nearly a thousand years ago. With the exception of
slightly different forms and the grime of age, this varies but little in general
appearance from that made to-day.

SHIGARAKI (Case 7 and Plate IV. 631)
In the village of Shigaraki are the ruins of one of the oldest ovens in Japan.
Ninagawa figures a little plate made of typical Shigaraki clay, dug up on the site of
this oven, which he believes to be nearly nine hundred years old. He also figures a
rough jar, to which is accorded an age of five hundred years ; and in the collection there
are specimens of Shigaraki showing successive periods up to the present day. They
are all strikingly alike in clay and rough way of potting. In the latter part of the six-
teenth century large jars for holding tea leaves became very popular, as it was believed
that the tea preserved better in pottery of this kind. Typical Shigaraki is unmistak-
able : the rough slightly reddish tinge to the clay, the coarse granules of silica
partially fused, and, in recent specimens, the thin transparent glistening glaze, with
sometimes a thicker running overglaze, render the pottery very distinctive. There are
many forms of Shigaraki In some the clay is finely sifted, and green, brown, or
glistening black glazes are used. These are rarely decorated. The tea-jars are either
typical Shigaraki, or glazed after Seto style.
623. Small plate. D. 3f in. Dull light Shigaraki clay, flecks of light green glaze.
Rough base. 1000
624- Jar. H. 7I in. Coarse Shigaraki clay, dull transparent glaze, splash of light greenish
overglaze. Rough impression of two pieces of wood, known as Geta, on bottom. Coarse
cracks on surface. Roughly potted. 1380
Type Ninagawa. Part III., Fig. 4.
625. Flower-vase. 1400
626. Tea-jar. H. 2\ in. Fine light brown clay, unglazed. Around rim, dark brown
glaze, splash of light olive-green on shoulder. Around neck, eight large drops of silica.
Around body, wavy parallel comb-marks. Inside, light brown glaze. 1570
Type Ninagawa. Part III., Fig. 6.
627. Tea-bowl. D. 4f in. Modeled by hand. Fine hard Shigaraki clay, thin dull light
red glaze, with areas of light fawn. 1680
Unique specimen on account of its reddish color.
Gift of George W. Wales.
629. Tea-bowl. D. 5i in. Fine light reddish clay, thin transparent glaze, irregular
splashes of white overglaze with rosy areas inside. i77'>
Type Ninagawa. Part III., Fig. 7.
631. Large plate, in form of ceremonial wine-cup. D. 9J in. Fine Shigaraki clay. In-
side, decoration of formal waves in blue, and flying crane in iron-rust red. 1780
Gift of Henry O. Havemeyer,