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Square Dish

Ogata Kenzan, Painted by Ogata Korin

Asian Art

When brothers Ogata Kenzan and Ogata Kōrin collaborated on ceramic pieces, they most commonly used flat, squared dishes in a creamy white clay that mimicked a paper surface. Kenzan made the simple clay forms and added the calligraphy, while Kōrin contributed the pictorial elements. The subject of this painting is the Daoist god of longevity, with his distinctive elongated head. Although this dish bears signatures of both artists, there is significant disagreement among scholars about whether those signatures are authentic.
MEDIUM Earthenware with underglaze iron-oxide painted decoration
  • Place Made: Japan
  • DATES 1710–1730
    PERIOD Edo Period
    DIMENSIONS 1 1/4 x 8 3/4 x 8 3/4 in. (3.1 x 22.3 x 22.3 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Asian Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 40.505
    CREDIT LINE A. Augustus Healy Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Edo Period. Potted by Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743), Painted by Ogata Korin (1658-1716). Square dish with raised straight sides; buff pottery covered with cream colored glaze which is irregularly crazed. On the interior, under the glaze, is painted a figure of Jurojin, one of the seven gods of good fortune and representing longevity. The figure, painted in the style of Ogata Korin and accompanied by a signature of the artist (now generally questioned), is represented in a seated position holding a scroll. The drawing is in free style and is in shades of brown. In this same color a floral scroll decorates the sides on the interior and a simpler scroll pattern appears on the sides of the exterior. The dish is in the style of those potted by Ogata Kenzan (b. 1663 - d.1743) and his signature appears on the bottom of the dish. Some blue lines appear in the glaze on the interior as well as in several places on the edge. On the interior above the figure to the left is an inscription painted in black with red seals. Korin's signature appears to the left of the figure, and Kenzan's signature is beside his calligraphy in the upper left hand corner. Condition: good.
    EXHIBITIONS
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Ogata Kenzan (Japanese, 1663–1743). Square Dish, 1710–1730. Earthenware with underglaze iron-oxide painted decoration, 1 1/4 x 8 3/4 x 8 3/4 in. (3.1 x 22.3 x 22.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, A. Augustus Healy Fund, 40.505. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 40.505_PS9.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 40.505_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2014
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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