Page 177 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

PROVINCES OF HIDACHI AND MING 115

PROVINCE OF HIDACHI

Few records are available regarding the pottery of this province. A
number of ovens have existed in the past, but the character of the pottery
cannot be judged by the few objects in the collection.
KAIRAKU (Case 12 and Plate VII. 1357)
A pottery was started in the town of Mito in 1830. The pieces, consisting of
utensils for the tea ceremony, were signed with the impressed mark Kairaku, and are
of great rarity. The two specimens in the collection are so remotely unlike in clay,
glaze, and design that they might have been made at the two extremities of the
empire.
1357' Cake-plate. D. 5^ in. Moulded. Fine light brownish clay, thick olive-green
lustreless glaze. Inside, design of a flower in high relief. Within, five spur-marks.
Cloth -mark impression on bottom, which shows five or six parallel gouges.
Kairaku (imp.). 1835
135^- Shallow cup. D. 5-^ in. Light yellowish clay, thick yellowish-white
glaze. Inside, Tokugawa crest, large and small, in brown. Kairaku (imp.). 1835 1357

KASANA (Case 12)
Within recent years a common pottery has been made in Kasana. The output,
consisting of jars, teapots, and the like, is for domestic use.
^359- Jar. H. 4J in. Light brick-red clay, light brown glaze flecked with light fawn,
thick fawn overglaze around rim. 1885
1360. Bottle. H. (>\ in. Similar to last.

PROVINCE OF MINO

Two hundred years ago white stone pottery and porcelain were made in
this province. The famous egg-shell porcelain, so well known to collectors,
was also made here. Within forty years little delicate porcelain wine-cups
were made in Mino and decorated in Tokyo with the thickest and brightest
of blue painting. These often had an envelope of bamboo basketry inclos-
ing them. Pottery has been made in the province from ancient times, and
various allusions to it are met with in Japanese books.
KUJIRI (Case 12 and Plate VII. 1363)
A double gourd-shaped bottle, which might be mistaken for Tamba or Seto, has
an incised inscription on its base indicating that it was made in the ninth year of
HSreki in the oven of Kujiri village. This date is equivalent to 1752. In the work