Page 140 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

86 THE CATALOGUE
lain decoration. The famous artist, Morikage, came to Kaga at this time and made
many designs for porcelain decoration. Mr. Takano, an intelligent citizen of Kaga,
told me that Yoshiya Hachiroyemon, a native of Kaga, in the early part of this
century, copied designs from an old book in which were pictures of famous Chinese
inks. These sticks of ink had in relief pictures of dragons and other mythological
creatures, and, hence, in old red Kutani one sees these subjects used as motives in
decoration. Native authorities say that green Kutani dates back to 1680 or there-
abouts, and that red Kutani began in the early years of this century with Hachiroye-
mon. In 1815, owing to a disastrous landslide, the ovens were removed from Kutani
to the village of Yamashiro, some distance from Kutani, and here they have remained,
though the product is still signed with the old mark Kutani. There are a number of
other places in Kaga where red Kutani is made. It is said that the Kutani showing a
cloudy or mottled red was decorated in Kaga, while the red applied evenly has been
decorated in Tokyo. It is well known that much, if not all, of the modern Kutani is
decorated in TSkyo.
1007. Flask-shaped bottle (possibly for flowers). H. 8J in. Fine light brown clay, rich
ivory-white glaze, crackled below and stained light brown. Deep encircling lines from top
to bottom. 1630
1008. Cake-tray. L. 5I in. White porcelain; rim, light brown glaze; margin within,
deep blue, with wood graining in black. Inside, bird with dragon mouth, clouds and waves
in various colors. Outside, scrolls in light green and red outlined in black. Comb-mark in
blue on basal ring. Fuku in blue on square green panel. 1680
1009. Square dish. D. 4J in. Similar to last. Fuku in black. 1680
1010. Square incense-burner. H. i\^ in. White stone clay, cloth-marked inside and
out ; white porcelain glaze, overglaze red, with reserve areas of flowers and leaves. Flowers
outlined in red, leaves with touches of red lined with black. 1680
IOII-IOI4. Dish, bottle, square box, oblong cake-dish. White porcelain clay, vari-
ously decorated. 1700-1780
GREEN KUTANI (Case 10 and Plate V. 1016)
Two objects are here introduced as illustrating models from which the Japanese
potter derived certain styles known as K5chi. The spiral lines in the decoration of
the shallow bowl are seen in the old green Kutani. This bowl was secured from
Ninagawa. It has an age of three or four hundred years. Both objects were probably
made in China proper.
IOI4A. Shallow bowl. D. 6| in. Very irregular in outline. Coarse brown clay, bright
dark green glaze with quaint fishes inside in light yellow outlined in black and green. Curi-
ous design on bottom, inside, with dark pink imbrications, evidently intended to represent a
fire beacon, around which the fish are swimming. Entire surface of glaze, inside and out,
covered with black spiral lines. Rim black. Basal ring broad and shallow applied and
crushed out of shape. 1600
XOI4B. Incense-burner. D. 3I in. , Fluted body. Fine fawn clay. Outside, rich green
glaze. Inside, yellowish fawn glaze iridescent. Upper and lower halves moulded separately
and united. / 1600