Page 211 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

PROVINCE OF KII 137

OTA (Case 14)
In 1870 a potter by the name of Ota Manjiro, at the age of seventy years, was
making sake cups in the form of masks.
1562. Large cup (mask form). D. 64 in. Light fawn clay ; lower surface,
rich green glaze. Inside, thick white glaze, with hair and eyes purplish-brown,
and mouth red. Shizuhata and Ota Manjiro shichi-ju-o kore wo tsukuru (imp.).
1870
SURUGA (Case 14)
i
Under the provincial name may be placed the single tea-jar attributed
to this province.
1563. Tea-jar, double gourd. H. 2| in. Light reddish clay, thick mottled
fawn glaze, with mottled-bluish overglaze running. 1830 156a

PROVINCE OF KII
The pottery of this province is widely known abroad through the clear
light blue and other colored glazes, notably the yellow, green, and purple,
with which the western market has been flooded. Pottery similar to this,
though of poorer quality, has been made elsewhere in Japan, but the stuff
originated in Wakayama. The early work had considerable merit.

KAIRAKUYEN (Case 15 and Plate XIII. 1564, 1567)
At Nishihama, a little west from Wakayama, was the villa of a former Daimyo of
the province. The garden of this place was known as Kairakuyen, and here, in the
beginning of the century, an oven was built, and pottery was made for the tea-service.
Precisely what kinds were made before the advent of Zengoro Hozen, in 1828, I have
not learned. With the advent of Hozen (the eleventh Yeiraku) it is said an improve-
ment took place in the character of the pottery ; at all events
the Daimyo of Kii, in acknowledgment of the new glazes
introduced by Hozen, presented this celebrated potter with |^%I
two seals, a silver and a gold one, on which were the charac- "^jr Mm^
ters Kahin Shiriu and Yeiraku respectively. Whether these B f#jK
were impressed on pottery made in Kairakuyen, or were used ^n^ ^^
after he returned to Kyoto, I have never clearly ascertained. m^^ ^r
fVif* fnmilv'Q u/nrU nndpr
.^nppimpriQ thiiQ Qicrnpri arp nlarf^H wif-Vi the family's work under ^mX^ '
Specimens thus signed are placed with
Ky5to. Authorities say that on the death of the Daimyo, in
1844, the oven was closed. I learned, however, at the place
that the work continued until 1868. The pottery is also known
^^
as Oniwa (Honorable Garden), but the name Kairakuyen is
retained, as all the pieces are thus signed. ^^^^
1564. Fire -VESSEL. H. 4J in. Dull drab clay, Jinko leaves 1564