Page 513 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

OF DOUBTFUL PROVENANCE
345
PROVINCE OF KII
4636 . Incense-burner. H. 2^111. Greenish-blue glaze. Landscape in black. A'a«(imp.),
PROVINCE OF MINO (Case 39)
4^39- Cylindrical flower-vase. H. 7J in. Hard light clay, finely
mottled brown underglaze, streams of white overglaze closely mottled with
fawn. Tanzan (imp.). Recent 4636 4639

PROVINCE OF MUSASHI
MAKUDSU

4640*. Heavy bowl. D. s| in. Light clay, thick white glaze. Dragon in blue inside
Makudsu (imp.).
Probably made by Makudsu at Yokohama.
4643*. Sauce-dish. L. 2| in. Moulded. Light brown clay, thin green
glaze. Inside, white, purple, and green glaze. Design of flowers and
leaves in high relief. Zen (imp.).
KEIZAN (Case 39 and Plate XXVIII. 4645, 4646)
4645. Fire-vessel, bail handle. H. 10 J in. Light brown clay, thin ochre-colored glaze, not
crackled. Elaborate designs of scrolls, etc., incised. Cover, with
perforated designs. Aya matsu ga and Keizan (imp.).
4040. Ornamental vase, modeled after form in bronze. H. 15J in.
Elephant handles with rings pendent. Light olive-brown glaze, coarsely
crackled. Unglazed panels on sides with formal scrolls deeply cut,
touched with light yellow and bright blue enamels. Ornamental rim
and base with formal scrolls deeply cut. Ayayaki and Keizan (imp.). 4645
These two pieces have been veritable puzzles to Japanese experts.
Under Teizan it is recorded that two princes of the Tokugawa, in the early part
of this century, made objects in pottery after their own fancy. This work was
done at the oven of Korakuyen. They signed their work Teizan and Keizan
respectively. The single authoritative piece from Ninagawa (No. 4071), made
by Teizan, is such as an amateur might make. The two doubtful pieces above
described bear the mark Keizan, and one of the pieces has in its ornamentation the crest of
the Tokugawa. With these faint clues and the evidences of fair age I venture to suggest that
they might have been the work of Keizan, — a strong objection against this
A
attribution being that the work is far beyond the ability of an amateur.
PROVINCE OF OMI (Case
39)
4653 • Tea-jar. H. 3I in. Light brown clay, Seto glaze with
splashes of lustrous golden-brown and deepest brown overglaze.
-ft
Base depressed, no threadmark. Ji (inc.). f
4657- Tea-pot. D. 3^ in. Modeled. Fine dark brown clay,
4653 4657
unglazed. Formal design of flowers, rock, etc., carved in relief.
Handle of cover carved in scrolls and perforated. Incised design about rim and cover.
Shizen-an (inc.).