TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM Special Exhibition SOMETSUKE - The flourishing of underglaze blue porcelain ware in Asia

TOP >> Special Exhibition

	Date : September 3, 2010 Valid until : September 6, 2009

SOMETSUKE - The flourishing of underglaze blue porcelain ware in Asia
Heiseikan, Tuesday, July 14 - Sunday, September 6, 2009

Blue-and-White with Fish and Water Plants Design

Left:Jar, Fish and lotus pond design in underglaze blue
Jingdezhen ware, China, Yuan dynasty, 14th Century
Important Cultural Property
Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka

Right: Tripod Dish, Lotus and heron design in underglaze blue
Nabeshima ware, Japan, Edo Period, 17th -18th century
Important Cultural Property
The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Saga

The sometsuke (underglaze blue) technique, of painting a design in cobalt-based pigments on a white porcelain base and coloring it in vivid indigo, was perfected in China during the Yuan period (1271-1368). Eventually, this technique came to Vietnam, Korea and Japan, and sometsuke full of individuality was produced in many areas. This exhibition features sometsuke from all over the East and introduces them from several viewpoints, looking at the liveliness of the designs, the beauty of the ground and the intimate connection they had, as vessels, to daily life.

General Information

Period

Tuesday, July 14 - Sunday, September 6, 2009

Venue

Heiseikan, Tokyo National Museum (Ueno Park)

Hours

9:30 - 17:00
Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays until 18:00
Fridays until 20:00
(last entry 30 minutes before closing)

Closed

Mondays (Except for Monday, July 20 and August 10) (Closed on Tuesday, July 21)

Admissions

Adults: 1,000 (800/700) yen
University students: 800 (600/500) yen
High school students: 600 (400/300) yen
Junior high school students and under: Free
Set admission tickets for the two special exhibitions "Ise Jingu and Treasures of Shinto" and "SOMETSUKE - The flourishing of underglaze blue porcelain ware in Asia": 1,600 (1,300/ - ) yen

*	Prices shown in ( ) indicate advance / group (more than 20 persons) discount tickets.
*	Persons with physical or mental disabilities are allowed free entry with one accompanying guest each
*	Advance tickets are on sale at the Museum ticket office (during museum hours) and e-Ticket Pia (P-code:688-673), Lawson Ticket (L-code:36125), E-Plus and other major playguides, until Monday, July 13, 2009.
*	Special exhibition "Ise Jingu and Treasures of Shinto" (Tuesday, July 14 - Sunday, September 6, 2009, Heiseikan) requires a separate admission fee.

Access

10 minutes' walk from JR Ueno Station (Park exit) and Uguisudani Station
15 minutes' walk from Keisei Ueno Station, Tokyo Metro Ueno Station and Tokyo Metro Nezu Station

Organizer

Tokyo National Museum

With the Assistance of

NOF Corporation, The Sankei Shimbun

General Inquiries

03-5405-8686 (Hello Dial)

Exhibitions held simultaneously

	Ise Jingu and Treasures of Shinto Tuesday, July 14 - Sunday, September 6, 2009, Heiseikan, Requires a separate admission fee.

Major Works on Display

Sometsuke in the Yuan Dynasty

Jar
Fish and lotus pond design in underglaze blue
Jingdezhen ware, China
Yuan dynasty, 14th Century
Important Cultural Property
Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka

Sometsuke in the Ming Dynasty

Dish
Three Friends of Winter design in underglaze blue
Jingdezhen ware, China
Ming dynasty, Xuande era (1426-1435)
Private Collection

Sometsuke of Vietnam

Dish
Crane design in underglaze blue
Vietnam
16th century
Private Collection

Sometsuke of Korea

Brush Pot
Autumn grasses design in underglaze blue
Korea
Joseon dynasty, 18th century
Tokyo National Museum (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)

Sometsuke of the Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasties

Two-Handled Hexagonal Dish
Kosometsuke type, Carriage and figure design in underglaze blue
Jingdezhen ware, China
Ming dynasty, 17th century
Tokyo National Museum (Gift of Mr. Hirota Matsushige)

Imari and Nabeshima Sometsuke

Bowl
Landscape design in underglaze blue
Imari ware, Japan
Edo period, 17th century
Suntory Museum of Art, Tokyo

Tripod Dish
Lotus and heron design in underglaze blue
Nabeshima ware, Japan
Edo period, 17th-18th century
The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Saga

Sometsuke of Kyoto and Other Regions

Tiered Food Box with Handle
Dragon and wave design in underglaze blue
By Aoki Mokubei
Kyoto ware, Japan
Edo period, 19th century
Important Cultural Property
Tokyo National Museum (Gift of Mr. Kasagi Toru)

Imari Sometsuke : Large Dishes from the Hirano Kosuke Collection

Dish
Fern design in underglaze blue
Imari ware, Japan
Edo period, 18th-19th century
Tokyo National Museum (Gift of Mr. Hirano Kosuke)