Important Cultural Property

Tea Leaf Jar with Design of Mt. Yoshino

Japan, Edo Period, 17th century　Ceramic
H. 35.7cm, D. 31.8cm, BD.12.9 cm
Matsunaga Collection

NONOMURA Ninsei

Dates of birth and death unknown

Mt. Yoshino in Nara Prefecture is widely known as Japan’s most famous site for viewing cherry blossoms. A superb view of these cherry trees in full bloom is brilliantly rendered on this piece’s elegantly curving outer surface. This is a masterpiece among Ninsei’s tea jars.
The piece is decorated with mountains with gentle ridgelines and beneath them, a strongly emphasized pattern of large cherry blossoms. It is gorgeously enameled in green, yellow, red, and indigo, with gold and silver added. Some cherry blossoms have turned into black due to the oxidization of silver. Cherry blossoms cover the entire surface just as they cover the mountains of Yoshino, and the development of the pattern recalls the flow of time on Mt. Yoshino when it reaches the full blooming season.
This piece shows Ninsei’s sophisticated work with the potter’s wheel. It is light when held in the hand, despite a size larger than other Ninsei tea jars. The lower area of the jar shows some rough scrapes in contrast to the overall smooth surface treatment. We are still unable to determine whether this was a measure to block the white glaze from dripping when firing, or an attempt to give depth and variety to the rendering.
This jar was handed down in the Kyogoku family, rulers of the Marugame domain in Shikoku, who used to own many of Ninsei’s tea jars. It is listed in their collection’s archive published in 1734.