Bowl with design of Mt. Fuji

Bowl with design of Mount Fuji. Wide-mouthed vessel with thin, everted rim and globular body resting on base with raised foot trimmed to create footring.

Clay: Porcelain; unglazed footrim darkened on surface by use.

Glaze: Purple and grey pigments under colorless glaze; white and grey overglaze enamels over glaze; colorless glaze applied to interior and foot. Unglazed footrim.

Decoration: The white clear-glazed lip and footring frame the central Mount Fuji design. Mount Fuji’s snowy peaks and slopes are outlined and highlighted with white enamel pigment; the rocky earth of its base is suggested by grey enamel pigment.

Mark: Dainippon / Kozan sei, in cobalt on base; paper label “14/T.”

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Maker(s)
Artist: Miyagawa Kozan (1842-1916)
Historical period(s)
Meiji era, ca. 1893-1899
Medium
Porcelain clay with pink and grey pigments under colorless glaze, white and grey enamels over the glaze
Dimensions
H x W x D: 8.6 x 13 x 13 cm (3 3/8 x 5 1/8 x 5 1/8 in)
Geography
Japan, Kanagawa prefecture, Yokohama
Credit Line
Bequest of Isabel S. Kurtz
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1991.20
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Bowl

Keywords
Japan, Meiji era (1868 - 1912), Mount Fuji, porcelain
Provenance

To ?
Charles M. Kurtz (1855-1909). [1]

To 1991
Isabel S. Kurtz (1901-1991). [2]

From 1991
Freer Gallery of Art, bequest of Isabel S. Kurtz (1901-1991). [3]

Notes:

[1] Ms. Isabel Kurtz bequeathed the group of Asian ceramics, F1991.19-.44, to the Freer Gallery of Art. These objects had been collected by her father, Charles M. Kurtz, who was a friend of Charles Freer.

[2] See note 1. Also see Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List after 1920 file, Collections Management Office.

[3] See note 2.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Charles M. Kurtz 1855-1909
Isabel S. Kurtz 1901-1991

Description

Bowl with design of Mount Fuji. Wide-mouthed vessel with thin, everted rim and globular body resting on base with raised foot trimmed to create footring.

Clay: Porcelain; unglazed footrim darkened on surface by use.

Glaze: Purple and grey pigments under colorless glaze; white and grey overglaze enamels over glaze; colorless glaze applied to interior and foot. Unglazed footrim.

Decoration: The white clear-glazed lip and footring frame the central Mount Fuji design. Mount Fuji's snowy peaks and slopes are outlined and highlighted with white enamel pigment; the rocky earth of its base is suggested by grey enamel pigment.

Mark: Dainippon / Kozan sei, in cobalt on base; paper label "14/T."

Inscription(s)

Potter's mark on base: "Dainippon Kozan sei" in cobalt; paper labels: "14/T", "M.I.(?)"

Label

This bowl uses thin washes of matter black pigment alone and beneath translucent lavender-pink glaze to create the effect of an ink painting. Thick lines of white enamel outline the snowy peak. Miyagawa Kozan, born in Kyoto, moved to Yokohama in 1870 to produce for the flourishing export ceramic market. He consistently won prizes in major international expositions.

Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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