125. Oribe yokode kyūsu

 125. Oribe yokode kyūsu 横手急須 (small teapot with side handle), early twentieth century(?)

 

Dark brown clay, green and yellow glazes with added decoration in brown and white; base, lower edges of exterior wall, the gallery on which the lid rests, and the outer edges of the underside of the lid left unglazed. Weight: 220 g (8 oz). Rim diameter: 8.3 cm (3-1/4 in); maximum diameter of body proper: 9.2 cm (3-5/8 in); base diameter: 5.7 cm (2-1/4 in). Width including handle: 13.2 cm (5-1/4 in). Height (overall): 7.5 cm (3 in). Lid diameter: 7.3 cm (2-7/8 in). Lid height: 1.7 cm (5/8 in).

This sits on the outside edge of the base; the interior of the base is a shallow concavity. The artist’s mark was stamped into the center of the base; it is an oval with three characters inside (now unreadable) and three small circular protrusions on the top. From the base the walls rise in a convex arc to the height of 4.5 cm (1-3/4 in); above this the walls are more or less a straight line to the rim of the bottom part. The maximum width of the body proper is located about 2.5 cm (1 in) above the base. This has the usual design of handle and pouring spout arranged at a 90-degree angle from each other. The interior of the handle was hollowed out. The handle is 3.7 cm (1-1/2 in) long. It is widest at the point of attachment to the body; it then narrows before flaring out at the end. The pouring spout is 2.5 cm (1 in) long. It is widest at the point of attachment to body. It then narrows toward the mouth of the spout. The mouth is level horizontally with the base. The mouth of the pot is 7.8 cm (3-1/8 in) in diameter. The gallery (the shelf on which the lid sits) is 0.6 cm (1/4 in), below the rim; the gallery is about 0.6 cm wide, and the central opening is 6.3 cm (2-1/2 in) in diameter. Seven holes were punched through the side of the pot where the pouring spout is attached. The underside of the lid is a shallow concavity in the center, surrounded by a horizontal edge about 0.6 cm (1/4 in) wide. The upper side mirrors the underside—an edge surrounded by a shallow convexity. The knob in the center of the upper side is shaped like a pine cone. A small hole was drilled through the lid to allow steam to escape and air to enter to facilitate pouring. The remnants of the cheesecloth used in shaping the lid are visible on both side of the lid.  I find the lid difficult to pick up—the knob is hard to grasp. The lid fits loosely on the gallery.

This was glazed in green and yellow with added decoration in white and brown. The green glaze on the lid lines up with the green glaze on the body. The design consists of two small flowers, one large flower shape, and some lines representing vegetation. The interior of the pot was glazed in yellow. The base, the lower portions of the exterior walls just above the base, the gallery, and the outer edges of the underside of the lid were left unglazed.

This is smaller than most kyūsu of this design. It shows much evidence of use and wear. The seller labeled this a Meiji (1868-1912) era pot. Without identifying the artist’s mark, it is impossible to date this, however. “Early twentieth century” is probably close. Regardless of its date, it is a pleasing object. 

Purchased from Treasures of Old in Bangkok in July 2012.