Page 183 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

PROVINCE OF SUO
I17
SEKISEN (Case 12)

This potter was a younger brother of Onko, and made pottery after the same
models, using the impressed mark Sekisen.
1369- Water-cooler for tea. D. 2f in. Fine light brown clay, unglazed. Flower and
poem strongly incised. Inside, rich green glaze. Rim, gilded. Cloth-mark impres-
sion on bottom. Sekisen (imp.). xZZo p^\

GENKO (Case 12) 1369
This potter evidently belongs to the family of Onko, and followed the methods of
Onko in making pottery.
I370' CoMFiT-BOTTLK D. 3J in. Fine light brown clay, roughened surface unglazed.
Genko (imp.). 1886

AKASAKA (Case 12)
Within recent years a very durable and bright glazed pottery for common utensils
has been made in Akasaka, the name of the place being used as a signature.
I37I*- Low COVERED JAR. D. 6^ in. Light reddish clay. Bright reddish-brown Jte
glaze, strongly mottled with black. Akasaka (imp.). 1870 1371

PROVINCE OF SUO

Su5 is surrounded on all sides by provinces famous for the extent and
variety of their fictile products. It has evidently been difficult for Suo to
compete with her neighbors in pottery-making, and to-day but few ovens
are found within her borders, and in past times but few were known. The
old pottery, so difficult to obtain, was either a hard stone product or a semi-
porcelain. The clay was finely manipulated, and the work shows great
skill and taste. For the following information I am almost entirely indebted
to old potters and antiquarians of Su5, to whom I was presented by Mr.
Kikkawa of that province.

TADA (Case 13 and Plate VIII. 1372, 1374, 1375)
As early as 1690 a pottery was established at Tada by order of Kikkawa, Daimyo
of Suo. A potter named Nishimura was called from Kyoto, and he acted as teacher
to Kawada Seihachi, a Tada potter. At the outset the products were sent to Kyoto.
For one hundred years the pottery was active, and various forms were made. The
material was hard, the glaze in some cases very beautiful, the taste severe. The semi-
porcelains, with white glaze and blue decoration, were unique. The marks were
Tada Iwakuni, or Iwakuni set, impressed or written. The oven became extinct one
hundred and thirty years ago.