Vase - Mountain Landscape & Eagle, Tokyo Hyouchi-en, Fukagawa, Japan, Early Meiji Period, 1873-1880

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Summary:: Vase manufactured by Tokyo Hyouchi-en in Fukagawa, Japan, during the early Meiji period between 1873 and 1880. Hyouchi-en was awarded a Fifth prize by the Glass and Pottery jury at the Melbourne International Exhibition. The manufacturers would have received a certificate.

In 1872 the Japanese government established a porcelain factory in Asakusa, Tokyo, specifically to produce material for display at the 1873 Vienna International Exhibition. It was headed by Kawahara Noritatsu (1845-1914). The government sold the factory to Kawahara in 1873 and he subsequently renamed the company Tokyo Hyouchi-en.

In 1900 Kawahara established a factory in Kyoto, known as Kyoto Hyouchi-en. It followed the tradition established at Tokyo Hyouchi-en, decorating porcelain kilned in Seto by the trading company Morimura Group. Kyoto Hyouchi-en was subsumed by the Japanese Pottery Partnership, Nagoya, in 1909. This partnership became known as Noritake, one of the leading companies of Japanese ceramics.
Description:: Two handled, tapering cylindrical with slightly bulbous body. Celadon glaze background with gilding around neck and foot. Painted on both sides in muted greys, blacks and browns: one side depicts a mountain landscape, complete with people walking up a path, and the other side an eagle in flight.
Acquisition Information:: Cultural Gifts Donation from Dr Will Twycross, 2009
Acknowledgement:: Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Discipline:	History
Dimensions:	420 mm (Height), 180 mm (Width)

Tagged with:	exhibitions melbourne international 1880-1881, royal exhibition building, japanese art, decorative arts, ceramics
Themes this item is part of:	Public Life & Institutions Collection, John Twycross Melbourne International Exhibitions Collection
Primary Classification:	ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING
Secondary Classification:	International Exhibitions
Tertiary Classification:	exhibition heritage
Inscriptions:	Signed on foot in red paint with three columns of kanji. Signature reads: Tokyo Hyouchi-en Sei, Japan No. 187
Manufacturer:	Tokyo Hyouchi-en, Japan, 1873-1880
Place & Date Exhibited:	Royal Exhibition Building (REB), Carlton, Victoria, Australia, 1880-1881
Collector:	Mr John Twycross, Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia, 1881