Page 473 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

PROVINCE OF RIKUZEN 317

4282. Jar. H. 7I in. Moulded by hand, with large tuberosities, ring handles adherent
Light fawn clay, dull light olive-greenish glaze mottled with brown.
Zenshun (imp.). 1880
These pieces are placed here doubtfully.
HIRONO (Case 36) 4282

Within recent years a pottery with typical Kiyomizu glaze and decoration has been
made in the village of Hirono. Nothing is known about the potter, and I have grave
doubts about the piece being placed here, despite the testimony of a native of
Iwaki.
4283. Jar. H. s in. Gray-drab clay, light gray underglaze, large area of thick
white overglaze, upon which are splashes of thick green glaze. Circles, etc., in
brown. Hirono (imp.). 1880 4283

PROVINCE OF RIKUZEN

But little information is at hand regarding the pottery of this province.
A large square tea-pot, with thin walls and dull black glaze, comes from the
Ninagawa collection as having been made in Sendai in i860. A tea-jar
with a similar glaze is also identified as Sendai ; two bowls, one of which
has the same clay and glaze, are placed here provisionally, and a number of
gourd-shaped bottles with impressed basket-work, identical to that shown
on the bowls, are also grouped with them. These bottles have been identi-
fied as Nakamura, but I can find no record of any such pottery having been
made in Nakamura or Ohorimura ; so by a process of exclusion they are
with much misgiving grouped under this province.

SENDAI (Case 36)
4284. Large square tea-pot. Extreme height 6f in. Japanese yellow clay, dead black
glaze. On the four sides panels of diaper with pines and figure, moulded. Mythological ani-
mal rudely modeled for handle of cover. i860
4285. Tea-jar. H. 2| in. Dull black glaze covering base as well.
4286. Tea-jar. H. 2J in. Knobs around neck. Dark clay showing dull black surface
outside, thick bluish-black glaze, clouded. Three bands of zigzag lines incised around body.
4287. Bowl. D. 3J in. Light fawn clay. Lower two thirds strongly indented to repre-
sent basket-work, with thin light brown glaze ; upper third and inside, deepest brown Seto
glaze. 1780
4288. Tea-bowl. D. 45 in. Fine gray clay, dull brown glaze. Around rim, inside and
out, thick bluish overglaze. Surface marked by impressed basket pattern. 1780