Page 494 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

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330 THE CATALOGUE
4444- Tea-pot. D. 2i in. Loops for bail. Nearly white clay and glaze. 1840

4445- Shallow bowl. D. 6J in. Subsequent decoration of fishes and water plants in
green, black, red, and gold. 1840
4446. Wine-bottle, with pottery stopper. H. 6} in. 1840
4447- Bowl. D. 4 in. Yellowish-white clay and glaze. 1850

4448. Tea-pot. D. 3I in. Loops for bail. Yellowish-white clay and glaze, strongly
crackled. 1855
4449. Cake-dish, fan-shaped. L. 8J in. Whitish clay and glaze with grayish clouding.
Gift of A. D. Weld French. i860
445^* Set of three shallow wine-cups. Largest, d. 3^ in. Yellowish-white clay and
glaze, coarsely crackled. Rims gilded. 1870
445^' Flower-vase. H. 4^ in. Interesting only as illustrating the deterioration which
has taken place in the tempering and manipulation of Satsuma clays. 1878

WHITE SATSUMA. NISHIKI-DE (brocade-painted)
The pottery most prized by the foreign collector is "Old Satsuma." This name,
however, is restricted to white crackled faVence decorated in colored enamels and gold.
Genuine pieces made by the Japanese in accordance with the taste of the Japanese,
and for use by the Japanese, are objects of extreme rarity. The pottery known as
Satsuma abroad has been made within the last twenty-five years solely for export.
Many of the early pieces of this export pottery were, indeed, marvels of the decorator's
art, but for all that do not in any way represent true Satsuma. I have dealt elsewhere
with this question, and would refer readers of this catalogue to my article, entitled " Old
Satsuma," in Harper s Magazine, September, 1888.
445^- Incense-burner, square, corners beveled. H. zf in. Moulded fret-work, four
small supports. Chalky, yellowish-white clay, thin yellowish-white glaze, microscopic crackle.
Over-decoration of flowers in green, white, purple, and red. Red fret about rim. 1764-71
Ninagawa figures in an unpublished plate the mate to this, which has a perforated cover,
but the legs are broken away. This was believed by experts in Japan to be the earliest
decorated Satsuma. The glaze and clay are so unlike the early decorated Satsuma that I
am inclined to place it as the work of Kono Senyemon. The work Toki Shoshi records that
a potter of the above name made brocade-painted pottery in 1764-71.
4453* Shallow bowl. D. 5I in. Nearly white clay and glaze finely crackled. Mass of
flowers in blue and green enamels with red and gold, outlined in black, delicately drawn.
1800
4454- Hand-warmer, form of tossing ball. L. 6f in. Light gray-drab clay, cream-white
glaze. Flowers and leaves in light red and yellow, outlined in black. 1800
4455' Brush-holder, square, beveled corners, edges and rim in relief. H. sJ in. Thick
and heavy. Nearly white clay, fine white glaze coarsely crackled. Corners, base, and rim
with diaper in red and green. Panels with flowers, birds, stand, etc., in green and blue
enamels, and red, brown, and gold, outlined in black. 1800