Antique Sumida Ware of a Pitcher With Thirteen Monkeys

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This tall pitcher with monkeys on a wooden bridge is from the Sumida kilns on the Sumida River that ran … Read more This tall pitcher with monkeys on a wooden bridge is from the Sumida kilns on the Sumida River that ran though Tokyo, Japan. This ware with the unctuous glaze covering the top and cascading down the sides, exposing the rest of the pottery body, and applied in low relief figures of boys and men, monkeys, birds and flowers were created by Inoue Ryosai in the mid Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) and continued throughout the Taisho Period (1912 - 1926) and into the Showa Period (1926 - 1989) by two more generation of potters using the same name until the 1930's. By that time, the Sumida pottery grew into a workshop many skillful potters working with Inoue Ryosai III. The pottery was near the Sumida River, hence the Western Name Sumida Gawa. Though they took on Western forms and Chinese glazes, these wares are uniquely Japanese.

This tall pitcher with the long ear shape handle is Western form, but the subject matter - thirteen snow monkeys is Japanese. Snow monkeys are native to Japan, monkeys were featured in folktales, Buddhist stories, even in Zen Koans. To feature monkeys was a popular choice. The artist potter who did the monkeys applique really captured the essence of the monkeys. He had them dressed yutaka (short jackets) or in their natural state engaging in tasks similar to what humans would do while crossing a bridge. Some of the faces sculpted by the potter are funny, adding a lightness to the piece of pottery. The mottled glaze that cascaded down from the neck is reminiscence of the unctuous glazes of Shiwan, the pottery center of South China. The red pottery showing concentric rings underneath the glaze is a convention of Sumida wares,

The signature cartouche in white porcelain is following traditions. The four character mark is Inoue Ryosai II. There are three generations of potters with the same name, The determination is based on style.

Dating: Early 20 century

Dimensions: 7 inches wide, 5 inches deep and 12.5 inches high, diameter of mouth is 4inches.

Condition: good See less