M5417

• From the collection of Hotsuma Katori (1874-1954). Hotsuma Katori was a famous Japanese metalwork artist who won the order of cultural merit as the first prize winner, he was also an official in charge of imperial court poetry. Known for his discipline in the history of Japanese metalwork he was also known as an outstanding researcher of Japanese history. He was a professor at the Tokyo Art School (now known as the Tokyo National Art University). He was also a member of the Academy of Arts and a curator of the Imperial Museum (now known as the Tokyo National Museum). He was a board member of the National Treasure Preservation committee. Although Shushin was his nickname, his birthname was Hidejrio. His first son Masahiko Katori was prized as a national living artist.
• Purchased from Hata, Kobe.
• Included by Stuart Marchant in Marchant – One Hundred Years, Volume II: 2001-2005, no. 1972, p. 481.
• A related massive vase of similar design in the British Museum from the Percival David Foundation collection, dated with an inscription corresponding to 1327, is illustrated by Rosemary Scott in Imperial Taste – Chinese Ceramics from the Percival David Foundation, no. 24, pp. 50/51; another massive similar vase also with the turned over rim collected by the Qing Palace in the Palace Museum Beijing is illustrated by Wangyao and Qionghua in Longquan of the World: Longquan Celadon and Globalisation, Vol. II State Vessels, no. 105, p. 176.
• The inside of the wood box on the cover states “celadon glazed flower vase from the collection of the Shinmyo-Ji Temple. This piece belonged to the production of the Longquan kiln site which continued from the late Song dynasty and was known in the Tenriuji Temple. The overall glaze, which is thickly applied, and the colour of very good tone, is very similar to the so-called “Kinuta celadon glaze”. This piece should be and is one of the best and remarkably outstanding pieces among all celadon glazed flower vases. It may be apparent that this flower vase’s provenance to the Shinmyo-Ji Temple was given by the Shogun Ashikage of the Muromachi period of the 14th century; from the collection of Hotsuma Katori known as Shushin Katori (1874-1954).” There is also a poem, which translated reads “under a west- sided window of the pavilion, facing the lotus pond with blooms of pink colour, on the glorious day of August the 22nd in the year of Showa, corresponding to 1947, at my age of 72 years old I live in the village of Katori”, with Hotsuma Shushin seal.

Overall good condition, a few glaze gaps and firing cracks, luting line slightly stained.