Page 443 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

PROVINCE OF MUSASHJ 291
provinces. One has only to recall the pottery of Iwaki, Iga, Harima, Bizen,
Higo, and certain other provinces to note their pronounced individuality.
The absence of this individuality in Musashi is easily understood. With
the enforced presence in Yedo in past times of the Daimyos of every pro-
vince, with the retainers, potters, metal workers, and other artificers forming
part of their retinue, the diversity is readily accounted for. In many instances
ovens were erected in the Yashiki, and potters of skill were brought from
various provinces, each continuing, with slight changes, his own peculiar
methods. Thus potters from Yamashiro, Owari, Omi, Kii, and other pro-
vinces introduced their own provincial styles. Tokyo, also, being a great
commercial centre, naturally attracted potters from various parts of the
empire. As a result of these circumstances a great diversity is seen in the
character of the pottery. It is recorded that the first oven in Tokyo was
built at Akasaka in 1630, by order of the third Shogun, lyemitsu, potters
from Osaka being ordered to make pottery after the style of their Osaka
work. Previous to the above date, however, roofing tiles had been made
in the last years of the sixteenth century. After the Osaka potters, came
respectively the potters of Imado, notably Hanshichi ; the Ise potter at
Kommemura, and the Kyoto potter, Kenzan, at Iriya. The work of the
Tokyo potters was altogether too recent, and perhaps too poor, to gain
recognition from the lovers of the tea-cult ; consequently the labor of ascer-
taining the history of the early Tokyo potteries has been difficult and
uncertain.

TAKAHARA (Case 35)
The earliest pottery for the tea-service in Musashi is said to have been made under
the patronage of the Shogun lyemitsu in 1630-40. The oven was erected in Akasaka,
and potters from Takahara, Osaka, were employed. Korean models were followed, and
while the work is certainly characteristic the distinction made between the products of
the two ovens seems very vague.
4027 . Bowl, somewhat irregular. D. 5^ in. Gray-drab clay, grayish-yellow glaze finely
crackled. 1630
4028. Bowl, sides slightly compressed. D. 5J in. Light fawn clay, lighter fawn glaze,
thick overglaze about rim minutely crackled. Spiral brush-mark of light olive-gray on
side. - . 1630
4029. Bowl, sides compressed. D. 5J in. Very light gray-drab clay, nearly white glaze
minutely crackled, few irregular brush-marks in olive-gray. Slightly iridescent. 1630