Tea-leaf storage jar

Label Text

This dramatic, glossy jar is glazed with a type called "pitch black" by the Japanese. Together with copper-green, cobalt-blue, and opaque white, it was popular for use on small tea-leaf storage jars such as this one, as well as on other still-smaller wares. The unusual depth of color - a feature that no doubt appealed to Freer, who regarded the vessel as "very fine" - was obtained by applying in two coats to a bisque-fired jar. Small glazed tea-leaf storage jars of this sort were probably intended mainly for use in shops selling tea, for storage and display. In the Peacock Room, however, it was placed on a high shelf, next to La Princesse du pays de la porcelaine and near other dark, glossy ceramics.

Object Name

Tea-leaf storage jar (chatsubo)

Ware

Shigaraki ware

Dated

second half of 19th century

Period

Edo period or Meiji era

Medium

Stoneware with "pitch black" glaze; thin iron glaze on interior

Dimensions

HxW: 21.5 x 18.8 cm

City

Shigaraki

Country

Japan

Credit Line

Gift of Charles Lang Freer

Iteration

2

Shelf Number

24

Wall

North

Title

Tea-leaf storage jar

Object Number

F1898.435

Freer Source

Matsuki Bunkyo

Freer Source City

Boston

Freer Source State

Massachusetts

Freer Source Country

United States

Image

http://141.217.97.109/plugins/Dropbox/files/peacock-jpg/JPEG/F1898.435.jpg

Collection

Citation

"Tea-leaf storage jar," in The Peacock Room, Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Accession No. F1898.435, Item #3102, http://peacockroom.wayne.edu/items/show/3102 (accessed March 28, 2024).