The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka opened its doors in November 1982, commemorating the donation of the Ataka Collection by the Sumitomo Group. The Ataka Collection is the world’s leading collection of Chinese and Korean ceramics, counting up to 965 works compiled by the former Ataka & Co., Ltd. Between 1996 and 1998, the Museum received a donation of a collection comprising 351 works, mainly Korean ceramics, by Dr. Rhee Byung-Chang. In addition to these two core collections, various collections have been donated to the Museum by benefactors during the course of over forty years since its opening, raising the quantity and quality of the Museum’s collection as a whole.
This omnibus-style exhibition showcases various ceramic collections together: the Shokei Collection, consisting primarily of tea utensils, most of which will be shown to the public for the first time; the Iriye Masanobu Collection, mainly Chinese wine vessels which had not been on view for many years; the Hakutoro Collection, focusing on Chinese ceramics; the Umino Nobuyoshi Collection, a compilation of ceramic funerary objects from China, taking the form of human beings, animals, and buildings; and the Suzuki Masao Collection, comprising works formerly owned by Asakawa Noritaka and related materials. Asakawa was a scholar on Korean ceramics who introduced the charm of Korean ceramics to the people of Japan.
◉ Highlights of The Exhibition
１．Most of the tea utensils from the Shokei Collection are shown to the public for the first time.
The Shokei Collection features Chinese, Korean, and Japanese ceramic tea utensils, along with hanging scrolls of calligraphic works and paintings, tea scoops, and kettles. The name of the collection consists of two kanji characters, sho and kei , each taken from the names of the donor’s parents who were well-versed in chanoyu or the practice of tea. While we have exhibited several works in the past, this exhibition is the first occasion to showcase selected works from the collection collectively. We are mainly displaying ceramic tea utensils produced before the 17th century, but also featuring a hanging scroll of a Japanese poem, designated as an Important Art Object.
２．Distinctive collections are showcased together after many years.
Art collections deeply reflect the taste of the collectors. Mr. Umino Nobuyoshi mainly collected Chinese funerary objects called mingqi , while Mr. Iriye Masanobu focused on Chinese ceramic wine vessels, and Mr. Usato Kinji chronologically compiled Chinese ceramics to create the Hakutoro Collection. Each collection, last exhibited from seven to fifteen years ago, are now being brought together in this exhibition. Enjoy this wonderful occasion in which you can compare the characteristics of these charming collections.
◉ Exhibition Content and Key Works
Part 1 (Gallery 1)
Wandering in the Afterworld—Chinese Funerary Ware from the UMINO Nobuyoshi Collection
This gallery showcases twenty works donated by Mr. Umino Nobuyoshi, comprising yong figures and other funerary ware from the Han dynasty to the Tang dynasty, which decorated the burial chambers of ancient China.
Part 2 (Gallery 2)
Timeless Art—Chinese Ceramics from the HAKUTORO Collection
This gallery features 37 objects selected from the collection compiled by Mr. Usato Kinji (pseudonym Hakutoro), a chronological assembly of Chinese ceramics.
Part 3 (Galleries 3 and 4)
・Practicality and Enjoyment—Chinese Ceramics from the IRIYE Masanobu Collection (Cups, Jars, and Bowls)
・The Art of Drinking—Chinese Ceramics from the IRIYE Masanobu Collection (Wine Vessels)
Part 4 (Gallery 6)
Sophisticated Artistry—Ceramic Works from the SHOKEI Collection
This gallery introduces a collection of mostly ceramic tea utensils from China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. A page belonging to a waka poetry anthology from the late Heian period (12th century) known as Ishiyama-gire (Important Art Object), mounted as a hanging scroll, is also on view.
Part 5 (Gallery 7)
Seeking True Beauty with Discerning Eyes—Korean Ceramics from the SUZUKI Masao Collection
This gallery displays 22 items of Korean ceramics formerly owned by Asakawa Noritaka (1884–1964), scholar of Korean ceramics who introduced the charm of Korean ceramics to Japan, and his related materials.
