Page 348 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

224 THE CATALOGUE
AWATA (Case 27 and Plate XX. 3100, 3101)

Typical Awata was first made in Awata district, Kyoto. The early pieces are not
signed. They are grayish in color and undecorated. Specimens of early Awata reveal
in the glaze under an ordinary lens air bubbles closely crowded together. Decorated
Awata appeared in 1620, and much of the early work is attributed to Ninsei. The
mark Awata first appeared at this time, and this mark has been used since by various
Awata potters unaccompanied by their own signatures.
3099- Flower-holder, in form of three sections of bamboo of different lengths, adhering,
with modeled plum-blossoms in front. H. in. Grayish-white clay and glaze strongly
3f
crackled. 1600
Ninagawa regarded this as the earliest Awata.
3100. Covered bowl. D. 4^ in. Very light fawn clay, light gray glaze coarsely crackled.
Pine and plum in dark gray and pale blue, continuous on cover. 1620
Type Ninagawa. Part IV., Fig. 17,
3101. Tea-jar. H. 3^in. Fawn clay, thick grayish-fawn glaze, coarsely crackled. Brocade
decoration in red and gold about shoulder. On side, fence in black and convolvulus in blue
and green enamels touched with gold. 1620
Type Ninagawa. Part IV., Fig. 18.

3102. WiNE-BOTTLE. H. 7 in. Very fine, light gray-drab clay, light grayish-fawn glaze.
Vigorous decoration of flowers and leaves in dull blue and dull gray, nearly black in some
portions. Awata (imp.). 1665
3103. Jar. H. 7f in. Coarse grayish-drab clay, with large area tinged with fawn. Coarse
white granules in clay. Outside, unglazed. Inside, transparent glaze. _
Awata (imp.). 1665
3104- Box, double gourd-shaped. H. 2J in. Very light fawn clay, nearly white
glaze. Circular panels containing figures, birds, etc., with lattice work between in
dark blue. An exquisite example. 1680 3'°3
3105. Bowl. D. 4J in. Very light grayish clay and glaze. Plum-tree and blossoms and
pine in thick bright blue and light green enamels with red flowers, touched with gold. 1680
3106. Dish. D. 3! in. Sides obliquely fluted and rim scalloped. Pale Japanese yellow
clay and glaze. Radiating figures in brown and blue. Awata (imp.). 1680
3I07-3I^^' Cake-dishes, bowls, wine-bottles, etc. 1680-1780 ^J ^l

31 17- Bowl. D. 4I in. Very light gray-drab clay, and glaze strongly ^^ ^
crackled. Tokugawa crest and pink in blue and olive-brown.
Awata (imp.). 1780
3II8. Bowl, slightly irregular. D. 4I in. Light fawn clay and glaze. Vigorous drawing
of house roof and bamboo in gray, black, and light brown. Obscure designs in gold nearly
erased. Awata (imp.). 1780
31 19-3125. Various forms of Awata. 1780-1800