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SOMETSUKE - The flourishing of underglaze blue porcelain ware in Asia

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

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

    Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Special Exhibition Gallery 1 & 2
    July 14, 2009 (Tue) - September 6, 2009 (Sun)

    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
 		   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
 		   Dish
Three Friends of Winter design in underglaze blue
Jingdezhen ware, China
Ming dynasty, Xuande era (1426-1435)
Private Collection
Sometsuke of Vietnam
Dish
 		   Dish
Crane design in underglaze blue
Vietnam
16th century
Private Collection
Sometsuke of Korea
Brush Pot   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   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   Bowl
Landscape design in underglaze blue
Imari ware, Japan
Edo period, 17th century
Suntory Museum of Art, Tokyo
Tripod Dish   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   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   Dish
Fern design in underglaze blue
Imari ware, Japan
Edo period, 18th-19th century
Tokyo National Museum (Gift of Mr. Hirano Kosuke)
Exhibitions