Examples of Objects on Display

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  CANDLE STAND

  Blue-and-white porcelain with Fukurokuju (Happiness, Wealth and Longevity) design

  Second half of the Edo period, 19th century
  Tozan ware
  Height: 48.5 cm
  Gift of Mrs. TSUJII Yukiko and Mr. TSUJII Tadashi (Acc. No. 05441)
  

  From the mid-Edo period (around the first half of the 18th century) onwards, when the production of candles increased, ceramic candle stands, from earthenware to porcelain, began to be produced. This work has an underglaze decoration of bats, deer and Chinese characters which can be read ju on the body, symbolizing fuku (happiness), roku (wealth) and ju (longevity) respectively. It is hollow from the body to the base and the inside of the base bears an inscription in underglaze blue, which ca be read Tozan, the name of the kiln at which this work was fired. Tozan kilns began to produce pottery in 1822 at the foot of Mt. Kozenji in Higashiyama, located in present-day Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. The kiln was soon brought under the management of the Himeji Domain.

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  ANDON-ZARA (Lantern Oil Dish)

  Oribe-style stoneware with Japanese iris designre with Japanese iris design

  Second half of the Edo period, 19th century
  Diameter: 21.8 cm
  Gift of Mrs. TSUJII Yukiko and Mr. TSUJII Tadashi (Acc. No. 05495)
  

  Andon-zara is a dish placed on the base of an andon or paper lantern to catch oil drips and prevent the base or the floor from being soiled by oil. Initially, andon-zaras were mostly made out of brass but they began to be replaced by ceramic dishes from around the beginning of 19th century. This work has a Japanese iris design painted in iron brown in the left hand of the center and the top and bottom sections are covered with green glaze. Such iron brown decoration is found in many Seto and Mino andon-zaras and there are a wide variety of motifs ranging from flora and fauna to landscapes and human figures.

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  HYOSOKU OIL LAMP

  Earthenware with green glaze

  Latter half of the Edo period, 19th century
  Height: 9.0 cm
  Gift of Mrs. TSUJII Yukiko and Mr. TSUJII Tadashi (Acc. No. 05468)
  

  Hyosoku is a type of oil lamp which has a protrusion that holds the wick. It was useful for the long duration of the flame, as it can hold more fuel (oil) than other oil dishes. This work holds oil in the pot on a stem, which is in the form of a kyusu teapot, and it was lighted at the tip of the wick which stuck out from the spout-like protrusion. The whole work is covered with green glaze which protects the body from oil soaking into it from the surface. The handle has an opening which enables the user to not only carry this work but also hang it on the pillar.