Japanese Ceramics
Japanese Antique Otagaki Rengetsu Tea Cups Signed with Book of Poetry
Age:Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Descriptive qualities& condition:
Dimensions: 3-1/8” dia. x 3-0”h
These two fine classic, stoneware Rengetsu handmade teacups, that are wonderful to the touch and beautifully incised with calligraphy. Each irregular piece was inscribed with her unique combination of hauntingly beautiful poetry/calligraphy with her own waka, (31-syllable classic poetry) and signature by Otagaki Rengetsu, (1791-1875). These Oribe-yaki glazed teacups have a cream glaze background, incorporating an olive-green drip glaze just below each rim, wonderfully textured with an unglazed foot ring. Each is a utilitarian design and varies slightly because of being hand formed, each having a thick glaze.
A word about this type of Oribe ware: (Oribe-yaki), is a classic style of pottery developed by the tea master, Furata Oribe (1544-1615), in the 16th century. Most of it is made in Seto province at the Mino kilns. Oribe ware is one of the most startling and innovative expressions of Japanese ceramics in existence, not only of this period but of all periods. Oribe ware has a very earthy feel with its layering of naturally occurring colors. The rich, olive-green, copper glaze is the most recognizable.
Finally, when the cups were purchased in 1985, we were informed at a Honolulu auction house that she once admitted that she was rather poor at making pottery herself, for which most of her pieces were collaborative efforts with her disciples. It was documented in historical findings that these pieces were functional tea cups, (Yunomi) and pieces meant to be used daily and produced earlier in her career and before her later pieces, such as Chawan bowls, for preparing and drinking in tea ceremonies became fashionable. They also stated that tea cups were more prevalent because she wanted to support the common populations which she served. Later in life her creations became popular and she became very wealthy, although she continued to have a simple life and donated a large amount of money during a famine in the 1850s and devoted herself to supportiong the poor late in life.
And finally and as part of this sale is a soft cover book of Poetry entitled: Lotus Moon: The Poetry of Rengetsu, First Edition (2005). Rengetsu joined the temple Chion-in and became a num, taking Rengetsu (“lotus Moon”), as her Buddhist name. This small book records her wonderful and personal writings many of which were incorporated into her pottery and are highly prized then as they are now by pottery collectors.
Condition: Excellent as originally made. No flaws or cracking from the effects of aging, and retains the exceptional colors and the original craft/workmanship. The softcover book is in excellent, new unused condition, unbroken spine. The pieces come in an old unmarked paulownia box with cord tie, which we believe was only to house and transport the cups.
NOTE: Rengetsu was originally born in the pleasure quarters of Kyoto in 1791, the illegitimate offspring of a high-ranking samurai and a young geisha. Later she was adopted by Otagaki Teruhisa, a lay priest serving at Chionji, the head temple of the Pure Land sect of Buddhism. It was said that she didn’t live a happy life because she lost her adoptive father and five brothers from illness. She married, but her husband died soon after. She remarried but lost this husband too from illness after only four years, as well as her young son and three young daughters. Late in her life, she became a Buddhist nun who is widely regarded as one of the greatest Japanese poets of the 19th century.
