Page 418 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

274 THE CATALOGUE
384X. Ash-holder. D. 8| in. Modeled by hand. Black lacquer inside and out. Incised
lines on side gilded. Ryozeniym^^. 1810
3842. Fire-vessel. D. 4^ in. Octagonal, paneled in deep grooves. Above, band of
panels enclosing the eight characters. Surface black lacquer. Grooves and characters gilded.
Ryozen (imp.). 1810
Gift of W. S. Bigelow.

ELEVENTH GENERATION, HOZEN = YEIRAKU (Plate XXII. 3843, 3845)
Hozen made great improvements on his father's methods, and by his skill and
originality established the world-wide reputation of his family. His pure blue and
white, his celadon, and, above all, his wonderful bowls decorated in red and gold, easily
place him in the ranks of the great potters of the world. His fame spread rapidly, and
early attracted the attention of the Prince of Kii, who invited him to take charge of a
private kiln at his castle grounds at Wakayama. Here, in 1827, he made pottery
known as Oniwa, or Kairakuyen (see Kii). For these services he received from the
prince, as an honorary distinction, two seals, one of gold and the other of silver. The
gold seal had upon it the characters Yeiraku, and the silver seal bore the characters
Kahin Shiriu. His pieces were usually signed with one or the other of these seals,
though sometimes the written characters Yeiraku set appear. He died in 1853.
3843. Bowl. D. 4J in. Hard light gray clay, strong whitish-gray glaze, coarsely crackled.
Over-decoration of pine, plum, and bamboo in blue
and green enamels, red blossoms, and gold.
Yeiraku (imp.). 1825
Type Ninagawa. Part V., Fig. 11.
3844- Box. D. 2f in. Fluted sides, crab in high
relief on cover. Light fawn clay, hard dull white glaze
within, glassy green glaze without. Crab glazed yellow. Yeiraku (imp.). 1830
Type Ninagawa. Part V., Fig. 12.
3845- Large bowl. D. 6J in. Hard white clay, dead red glaze. Design in gold of
scrolls, mythological birds, formal leaves, flowers, etc., with texture scratched
with sharp point. Inside, on bottom, white glaze with clouds, waves, etc.
rich blue. Dai Nikon Konan Yeiraku Hozen tsukuru (written in
blue). 1830
A beautiful example of Yeiraku's " red and gold."
3846. Tea-cup. D. 2^ in. Similar to last, different design.
Dai Nikon Yeiraku tsukuru (written). 1830
3847-3853- Various examples of Hozen's work bearing the
impressed mark Yeiraku. 3845
3854- Flower-vase. H. 7J in. Light buff and grayish-black clays mixed, Smooth un-
glazed surface. Simple pointed leaf form incised around upper portion.
Hozen (imp.). 1830
Very rare mark.
3855- Pox. D. 31^ in. Rough surface. Shiny red lacquer, heavily gilded inside
and out. Yeiraku and Kahin Shiriu (imp.). 1830 3854