Page 483 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

PROVINCE OF SATSUMA 323
the early potters named Bochu. Boku made pottery in Satsuma in 1781, his Japanese
name being Kawabara Chuzayemon. Sogi Gensuke of Aira Gori, Osumi, exhibited
at the National Exposition in Tokyo, 1885, an inkstone made by Boku in 1783. This
Boku was an ancestor of the exhibitor. Mr. Michitaro Hisa, who is a critical reader
of difficult marks, insists that the character Yoshi=Hd can in no way be read Boku.
For the present the mark will be read Ho, and in bringing the various forms together
they group themselves in various ages up to the present time. The pottery bearing
the mark Hojii is by far the most perfect as well as the most diversified. It includes
the earliest forms of the various pieces bearing Ho as the first character. A few
pieces without signature are placed here provisionally.

4352- Tea-bowl, sides indented. D. 4 in. Thick and heavy. Brown clay, brown under-
glaze strongly mottled with darker brown. Thick splash of grayish-brown glaze, over which
are irregular splashes of thick white glaze, upon which are waves in blue and flying cranes
in dark brown. Inside, grayish-white glaze coarsely crackled. 1780
The box containing this specimen was marked " jar-shaped bowl." It is a unique and
beautiful object.
4353" Gourd-shaped bottle. H. s| in. Fine drab clay, grayish-drab glaze. Grapevine
roughly incised in white Mishima. 1780
4354. Gourd-shaped bottle. H. 4I in. Light brown clay. Simple flowers and twigs
roughly incised in white Mishima. 1780
These two forms are exceedingly rare from the fact that the decoration is incised and not
impressed.

4355- Incense-burner. D. 5 in. Reddish-brown clay, greenish-gray glaze. Bands of
flowers, circles, etc., impressed, white Mishima. Three legs. Hdju (imp.). ^.^

4356. Wine-bottle, gourd-shaped. H. 6J in. Gray-drab clay, grayish- \« lai
drab glaze. Bamboo in thick white slip. Rare form of decoration. ^3r
^«(imp.). 1780 43SS 4356

4357. Plate. D. 6i in. Reddish-brown clay, dark gray glaze. Inside, three cranes
flying and standing, in white slip. Bills and legs in blue. 1780
Gift of Denman W. Ross.

4358. Wine-bottle, gourd-shaped. H. 7 in. Brown clay, rich reddish-brown glaze, finely
mottled with darker brown, areas of dark brown glaze mottled with blue. Iridescent. 1780
4359- FiRE-VESSEL. H. 3i in. Clay and glaze similar to last.
1800
Hdju (imp.).
4360. Squat jar. H. 4I in. Light reddish clay, dull underglaze,
thick yellowish-white overglaze, through which decoration of bamboo is
incised exposing dark clay beneath. Hdju (imp.). 1800
Unique form of decoration.
4361*. Wine-bottle, gourd-shaped. H. 7^ in. Hdju (imp.). 1800