Page 493 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

PROVINCE OF SATSUMA 329
paper on the Korean Potters in Satsuma, to which allusion has already been made,
learned that up to 1864 (at which date its production ceased) it was shipped in large
quantities to Nagasaki. Being without merit it gradually disappeared, and specimens
of it are rare. A harder form of this pottery was made in the last century.
4435- Bowl, octagonal. D. 4f in. Hard, nearly white clay, deep yellow glaze with large
irregular splashes of dark brown glaze finely crackled. Inside basal ring thick white glaze.
1700
443^' Bowl. D. 3I in. Yellowish-white clay, light golden-brown glaze with irregular
splashes of dark brown and light green glaze. Inside basal ring thick white glaze coarsely
crackled. 1820
4437- Bowl. D. 3I in. Nearly white clay, bright yellow glaze with irregular splashes of
seal-brown and light bluish glaze. Inside basal ring white glaze. 1840
Satsuma and Kawauchi (written).
443^- Tea-pot, rectangular, corners fluted. L. 4J in. Soft fawn
clay, deep seal-brown glaze with splashes of greenish-yellow.
Gengo (imp.). 1840
4439- Tea-cup. D. i \^ in. Yellowish-white clay and glaze, ver-
tical splashes of golden-brown overglaze inside and out. 1840

WHITE SATSUMA (Case 38 and Plate XXVII. 4442, 4452, 4453, 4457, 4489)
Under this name, for want of a better term, may be considered all forms of white
Satsuma faience, whether decorated or not. The undecorated forms vary much in
their quality, the older pieces being always more evenly and finely crackled. The
earliest forms are referred to Chosa, Osumi, and these have an almost crystalline
appearance, so peculiarly fine and brilliant does the crackle appear.
The brocade-decorated pieces of Nishiki-de of the earliest period are also finely and
evenly crackled. The date for these is usually placed at 1790 or thereabouts. The
work Toki Shoshi records Kono Senyemon as making Nishiki-de in 1764-71. Besides
these floral decorated ones in vitrifiable enamels there are many other varieties, some
decorated in blue, others with sketchy landscapes in bluish-black, and others still with
scrolls or diapers in brown, suggesting Shino. Variations in clays and glazes appear,
the purple-glazed forms being the rarest. Marks are extremely rare.

WHITE SATSUMA (undecorated)

4440. Bowl. D. 3I in. Whitish clay and glaze, dull crackle. Obscure mark in square
panel, impressed. i7S°
4442. Incense-burner, with silver cover. H. 5^ in. Moulded in form of lotus flower.
Petals on side in high relief. Light stained ivory-colored glaze with finest of brilliant crackle.
Two irregular areas of lacquer with gold, filling imperfections of glaze.
An exquisite piece of early Satsuma.
Gift of Denman W. Ross.
4443. Bottle. H. 2} in. Yellowish-white clay and glaze strongly crackled. 1800