The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-16
TREASURES OF JAPANESE POTTERY.
Newly Catalogued Collection Made by Professor Morse surpasses
Any Assortment in the Word-Represents All Forms
of the Typical Art of Japan.

WRITTEN FoR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
Boston. so seemingly opposed by situa
ton and Puritan tradition to all that 4
Oriental in thought and feeling. has beer
the gateway through which many OF the in.
fuences Of japanese civilization have en-.
tered into American life. The
example Of Boston's early communicable
with Japan. direct or indirect. is found in
the walls Of dwelling and church covered
with the close green foliage OF the Ampe-
lopsis veitchii. the beautiful Japanese ivy
really no ivy at all. but a kind Of vir-
ginia creeper-which Americans everywhere
have learned to call Boston ivy" from
the place of fits first introduction into the
United States. Beyond the city proper, at
the Arnold Aboretum. in Jamaica Plain. is
the chief storehouse and distributing center
OF japanese trees and shrubs in the world.
pe-rhape-outside Of Japan itself-where the
fne japanese fora finds. under New Eng
land skies. conditions that often apparently
are almost perfectly congenial. and where.
appropriately. the most authoritative vol
ume In the language on japanese trees,
Professor Sargent's Forest Flora of Ja-
pam" was prepared.
Trees and vines. Of course, are not a nee
eesary medium of civilization. Art distinct
ly Is. And the great japanese department
OF the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. there
fore. with its potteries. paintings, bronzes
ana lacQuers. offers a more pertinent Illus
tration of Boston's early and steady inter-
est In things japanese. Probably the best
known portion is the Morse collection of
pottery, which is believed to surpass any
similar collection in the world, not only in
America and Europe, but even In japan. 1t
was begun nearly twenty-five years ago by
Professor Edward s. Morse of Salem. the
author Of Japanese Homes and Their Sur
roundings." the standard book on japanese
domestic life. and was purchased for the
museum In lSS2. Professor Morse has re-
mained since then as its curator. during
most Of the time at work on the monu-
mental catalogue which has now Just been
published by the museum. and which ena-
bles either the visitor or the collector at a
distance to appreciate for the frs, time Tie
remarkable scope and value Of the collec-
ton as a whole.
Professor Morse first went to Janan IN
1877. to study a group of organisms which
had engaged his attention as a BIOLOGIST. |
during this visit he was offered the chair !
OF zoology at the Imperial University at
TOXIC. Thus he was one Of the many New |
E~nxianders who went out at about that |
time to teach Japan the sciences and arts |
OF tho West. and who brought back with
them the knowledge OF japanese life which
laid the foundation for Boston and New |
England interest in japanese culture and
art Besides being a zoolog1st Professor |
Morse was-and is-an ethnoIogist. Certain ,
explorations which he undertook IN jana
nese shell heaps brought to light. ms is |
usual. pieces Of prehistoric pottery. and
these were studied in connection with early
historic wares Then during q period of
Illness brought on by overwork. he took I'D
win seriousness the Investigation and col
lection Of Japanese pottery in general. act
Ing on the wise suggestion OF his physician
NAT q hobby was the best medicine for an
overworked brain.
From so accidental q beginning was
evolved the collection as It stands to-day
the most complete. beautiful and Interest,"
Ing to be found anywhere. Probably no
other to compare with It can ever be
Formed Tor the Japan Of to-day no longer
oners the chance for treasure-trove that II
oio twenty-five or even ten years ago. II IS
larger IN number Of potteries and marks
represented. IT is believed. than all the 9TH
er public collections of japanese pottery in
the world put together. It has all the kinds i
OF marks and wares. with only trffine ex-
ceptions. that are represented In European
or American museums. with hundreds that
none OF them possess. All together. # In
Guides over 5000 pieces. representing fifty
nIne provinces and COB different potters.
moreover. 1t is constantly growing. Since
iS<' ior example. when 1t was acquired by
tne Ar Museum. 1.s1 specimens have been
ADDED. rs OF them by gift Since the very
beginning. however, there has been a dca.
mite plan In building ND the collection
which lie best described. perhaps. In Profess
sor Morse's own words.
The collection" he says, has been
brought together by one collector vbo
the task (Which is by no means
enoed) has had In view certain definite OBJ
>ects- On Of these objects, and the main
one. mas been to make a collection Of the
pottery OF Japan which should parallel the
famous collections Of the potteries of Eng
land. Holland. France and adjacent coun.
tries. as seen in the museums of Eurone Tn
the great museums OF art in Paris. Berlin
and other places an Englishman NAV see
Inc pottery OF his own and other European
These collections represent all
Inc ovens and marks known from the ear
nest time to the latest. Turning to Japan,
me greatest pottery-producing country In
the world. one often finds In a case labeled
oriental Porcelain a small collection of
miscellaneous pieces. with highly decorated
specimens made for the foreign market pre-
dominating. and these not unusually min
Bied with the nctile products Of China"
speaking more definitely Of his own chi
ection. Professor Morse continues: THE
OF each specimen has been fully y
Weighed In accordance with the effort to Sc
,ure the work not only OF every known
'amiiy OF potters In Japan. but Of all the
Of each known family and their