Page 416 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

THE CATALOGUE 1
272
3818. Tea-bowl. D. 5J in. Fine gray-drab clay, yellowish-gray glaze with grayish areas.
Asahi (imp.). 1 700
A beautiful example, showing the color of morning light in the glaze.

3818 3819 3820 3821 3823 3824 3826
3819-3835. Bowls, cups, etc. All signed Asahi, impressed. I 700-1 880
% W
H,
»3 9
3828 3829 3830 3S31 3833 3834 383s

ZENGORO (Case 32)
A family of potters famous in the annals of Japan is that of Zengoro. Nishimura
Zengoro is regarded as the founder of the family. He was a Shinto priest in Nara,
and made unglazed vessels for offering. He died in 1558. His son, the second Zen-
goro, became a potter and went to Izumi, and there erected an oven and made un-
glazed fire-vessels {fiiro). In the work he showed great skill, and received the sobri-
quet of Furo-shi Zengoro (Furo-maker, Zengoro). The third Zengoro moved to
Kyoto and continued the work of furo-making, beside that of other utensils for the tea-
drinkers. Successive generations up to, and including, the ninth continued as potters,
limiting their work to furo and other fire-utensils, and were famous for their excellent
pottery. The pottery being unglazed, and of the softest character, but little has sur-
vived. Of these early generations the collection possesses but one bowl, made by the
third generation, Sozen, a gift to the collection from Denman W. Ross, and an incense-
burner made by the sixth generation, Sohin, presented by George lies. Collateral
members of the early generations are represented in the collection by the work of
Yokuro and Sozaburo and Soshiro, and these objects will be catalogued after the
Zengoro series.
The generations of the Zengoros, with their pseudonyms, are as follows —
:
First generation . . . not known . . died 1558
Second generation Sozen died 1594
Third generation Sozen died 1623
Fourth generation Soun died 1655
Fifth generation Sozen died 1698
Sixth generation Sohin died 1 74
Seventh generation Sojuin died 1744
Eighth generation Soen died 1769
Ninth generation Sogan died 1779