The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-08-20
Rare Porcelains Owned by a
Philadelnhian

AiodCiplJldH
Collections of the finest productions
of Oriental proceIains are quite rare
These specimens made centuries ago,
decorated with taste and skill beyond
conception of the human mind, can be
purchased only by the few. This
prompts me to say | have been one of
a privileged few to see treasure pos
session, surviving the feudal days of
Japan. of So pieces of the variety of
"Old Japan" belonging to Miss Anne
G. Edwards of Philadelphia. Each
piece is endorsed with the signature of
one of Japan's most famous potters,
bearing the inscription, made at Arita
Tomimura, Japan,
Tomimura Kanyemon manufactured
proclaim at Arita, province of Hizen,
and made what we know by the name
OF ''Old Japan" He traded with for
eign nations in contravention of the
then existing law, was discovered by
the Government and compelled to
commit hara kiri in about the year
1873. The decoration is in the Nishi-
kide fashion. Nishikide is the name
for porcelain painted in MANY colors
in Hizen. The ware is thick and
heavy, almost clumsy, made suitable
for purposes of expectation. The paste
is hard, fine and pure, the glaze snow
white, dazzling in brilliancy, while the
enamels flash with the cleaning luster
of gems, all boldly painted in red,
grass-green, lilac blue, gold, and the
occasionally introduced black-charac-
teristic seventeenth century "Old
IQnQn - In xxyoolfh Of orna
curacy of design, harmony of rich
gorgeous coloring, symbolical read
ings and historic value, they are a
wonderment of beauty and interest.
Unstinted eulogies have been bestowed
upon the marvellous and supreme
genius of Tomimura for decorative
effect, concentration of lines according
to the principle of pure design, and the
coloring-a perfect harmony of tints,
warm, rich, glowing; all the enamels
set in black outlines, each color call
ing the other so as to accentuate one
another, used with consunimate abili-
ty, making the paintinga strong note
of melodious color and triumph of
achievement unchallenged in it's vivid
splendor. To gaze at the porcelains is
to admit the colossal power with which
the artist soul has sec forth his inspira-
ton. On the covers, in modelled relief,
charming features of interest are the
modified crests Of the kiku and kiri,
and the monogram, indicating, presum-
ably, the family for whom the set was
made. Use of crests for decorative
purposes was not customary, it being a
violation of the law, but in the seven
tenth century it was common prac-
tice for makers of "Old Japan" to in
troduce notifications of the kiku and
kiri crests, and to occasionally paint
them, properly displayed, either as
mark or an ornament. 1t is supposed
the practice was discontinued after dis
covery of the illegal dealings of Toni
mura Kanvemon.
Tap gently the dome-shaped covers
Of the porcelains, and 10, the tolling of
The cathedral bell rings out with sweet
est knell.
Among collectors, men of letters, and
critics who have enthusiastically paid
tribute to this dinner service are the
late John G. Johnson, Esq, and the
Hogitaro Inada, a noted art
connoisseur of Japan, who, during the
winter of 1916 and 1917 exported collec-
tons owned by the Park and Stanford
University Museums-in particular a
number of rare specimens of Oriental
art in the famous Ikeda collections
owned by the Stanford University.
Mr.. Inada stated that without doubt
the set is not only genuine but must
be the only set of its kind in existence,
and probably the most beautiful he
had ever seen, placing the age thereof
without tho clinhfoCf 70 81
the period the fortunate owner assigns
Protected by cabinet enclosure thru
the passage of time, this remarkable
set OF % pieces, with few exceptions, is
preserved in all its unsurpassed and
beauty and skill.
Some of the early Arita proclaim
was, it is true, manufactured to, the
order of the Dutch traders of Nagasaki,
and bears the marks of this extraneous
influence in the gaudy over-crowding
of it's decoration. This probably ac-
counts for the curious fact that the fine
old Japanese china now so valued by
collectors, is so little of the character
which one would expect to find in the
production Of q country at one5time so
independent of Western civilization.
The real influence came from China
and is attributed to one Gorodayu
Shonsui of Use, who returned from
visit to China 1912 ,and settled in the
province of Hizen, but, as has been re-
marked, lit would be interesting to
know whence was derived this peculiar
style of decoration, which is evidently
not borrowed from the Chinese"
Imitators lack brilliancy in color
and peculiar test of the pate both Of
which are distinctive of genuine old
Oriental. The singular red enamel to
be found on this variety of ware, laid
on in medium thickness (Chinese
enamels are thicker than the early
Japanesel assumes the appearance of
sealing wax. The designs and symbo-
lical marks copied from China have
the same meaning to the japanese.
DIR. o. Dammer in his work on
technology, is authority in stating thai
Seger PORCELAIN is the first imitation OIL
+ Japanese porcelain. investigation
were commenced in 1874 and they
started to produce or make the porce,
lain in the year 1880. just here il
| might be we'll to consider how the tex
perts' of today, at this remote century
from the time of manufacture, are
[ with arbitrary judgment lit would ap
pear to their pleasurable fancy anC
potency of position rather than to the
testifying data, verified and supported
by the tout ensemble'') shifting the
art works, one dynasty to another, as
| signing productions to this period anc
that period in any given dynasty
hitherto attributed to earlier or late
dynasties; and it is the time to ponde
and wonder how posterity will know
the true from the false. For example
to quote Mr.. J. f. Blacker, sit is re
markable that only few Ming speci
mems seem to have been identified
with enamel color decoration, tho il
recent, indeed, quite late times
authorities are ascribing pieces will
green and yellow enamels set in blacl
outline toMing, rather then to Kang
he"
The late removed Professor Earnes
f. Fenollosa declared that spirited
modelling, telling color, and that in
describable something that may b.