From the collection of Baron Takashi Masuda
Name
A persimmon-shaped tea caddy crafted by the First Fujishiro (Buddhist name: Shunkei).
Dimensions
Height: approx. 5.5 cm (1 sun 8 bu)
Body diameter: approx. 8.1 cm (2 sun 6 bu 6 rin)
Mouth diameter: approx. 4.2 cm (1 sun 4 bu)
Base diameter: approx. 3.9 cm (1 sun 3 bu)
Koshiki height: approx. 0.8 cm (2 bu 5 rin)
Shoulder width: approx. 0.6 cm (2 bu)
Weight: approx. 91.9 g (24 monme 5 bu)
Accessories
・Lid: 1 (Yana)
・Storage pouches: 2
- Donshu Fujitane (Lining: Purple; Stitching Thread: Purple)
- Satin-ground Kinran (Lining: Iridescent; Cord and Stitching Thread: Wisteria)
・Box: Paulownia wood, natural finish - Inscription on the front: Sōfu (Kobori Enshū)
- Inscription on the back: Sōchū
Front: Shunkei
Back: The two characters “Shunkei” are in Sōfu’s handwriting.
Recorded by Sōchū
Pouch: Fursu
Miscellaneous Notes
Antique Seto Persimmon—In the handwriting of Lord Sōkei
Record of Actual Viewing
Viewed in person on July 18, Taishō 9 (1920), at the residence of Baron Takao Masuda in Gotenyama, Shinagawa, Tokyo Prefecture.
The rim is rounded and slightly flared; the area below the koshiki (neck ring) protrudes; the shoulders rise sharply; and a single recessed line runs around the lower portion of the bulging body. The area below the footring reveals a vermilion-clay-colored body with fine wheel marks, and the swirl-patterned rim on the bottom is extremely intricate. The overall color is chestnut brown; a slightly blackish glaze (the same glaze) covers the area around the shoulders, and there are two instances of glaze run (glaze dripping) where the glaze flows over the body ridge (recessed groove) down to the unglazed clay. There are traces of repair (such as kintsuan) from the rim to the base; inside, glaze covers only the area around the rim, while shallow wheel marks continue downward, forming a swirl pattern in the center of the base.
(Photo courtesy of the Enshu Collection)
