Kitano Katatsuki
北野肩衝
Alternate Name: Karasumaru Katatsuki 烏丸肩衝
Rank
Chaire Type
Historical Period
Current Owner / Collection
Denrai
Omeibutsu 大名物, Higashiyama gyobutsu 東山御物
Kansaku karamono katatsuki chaire 漢作唐物肩衝茶入
Southern Song – Yuan Dynasty 南宋 – 元時代
Mitsui Memorial Museum 三井記念美術館 (Mitsui bunko三井文庫)
Ashikaga Yoshimasa 足利義政 – Miyoshi Sozan 三好宗三 – Tsuda Sotatsu 津田宗達 – Tsuda Sokyu, 津田宗及 – Karasumaru Mitsunobu 烏丸光宣 – Miki Gondayu 三木権太夫 – Mitsui Hachiroemon 三井八郎右衛門 – Wakasa Sakai family 若狭酒井家 – Mitsui family三井家 – Mitsui Memorial Museum (Mitsui bunko) 三井記念美術館 (三井文庫)
Origin of Name and Stories
The Kitano Katatsuki is considered the equal of the greatest Chinese katatsuki: Hatsuhana, Nitta, and Aburaya. There are various theories about its naming. A well-known interpretation suggests that the name dates from the chaire’s appearance at the Kitano Ochanoyu in 1587, hosted by Hideyoshi. As Hideyoshi was leaving, Rikyu remarked on having seen a notable chaire, whereupon Hideyoshi deliberately returned to view it. However, two records, Tennojiya kaiki 天王寺屋会記 and Matsuya kaiki 松屋会記 mention that the Tsuda family owned this chaire before the year 1587 and give its name as Kitano. This casts doubt on the Kitano Ochanoyu episode being the origin of its name. Taisho meikikan大正名器鑑 suggests that the Kitano Ochanoyu story likely was added later.
This chaire is also known as Karasumaru Katatsuki as it was once owned by Karasumaru Mitsunobu, a Kyoto nobleman known for his calligraphy.
Physical Description
The Kitano Katatsuki has a classic katatsuki shape. The very thin clay walls make its weight light in the hands, considering the size of the chaire. The neck of the chaire is short, and the everted rim of the mouth is minutely worked. The shoulder extends horizontally, and the sharp and elegant body line runs from the corner of the shoulder to the base. The hem of the glaze is shallow, below which the clay body is exposed. The base resembles the slab-like style itakoshi, but the center is slightly indented. Several submerged thread lines mark the middle of the torso. The black-brown overglaze falls like an avalanche into the dark brown base glaze from shoulder to base.
Height: 8.9 cm
Weight: 130 g
Mouth diameter: 4.8 cm
Body diameter: 7.4 cm
Base diameter: 4.2 cm
Accompanying items
Lid
Shifuku
Ivory
Three (From left to right)
Futarishizuka kinran (Tachibanaya gire) 二人静金襴 (橘屋裂)
Usu aiji hanamon donsu (Honnōji gire) 薄藍地花紋緞子 (本能寺裂)
Kamakura kanto 鎌倉間道
Tray
Hikiya
Hikiyabukuro
Box inscriptions
Karamono aogai yoho bon 唐物青貝四方盆, a square Chinese tray with mother-of-pearl inlay
Kiri 桐, paulownia wood
Benigawa 紅革, red leather
Box for shifuku: 北野肩衝 替袋 橘屋切 蓋アリ 本能寺織留 鎌倉広東 Kitano Katatsuki Kaebukuro Tachibanaya kire Futa ari Honnoji oridome Kamakura kanto
Accompanying documents: Four
Kitano katatsuki yuraisho 北野肩衝由来書, a letter denoting the Kitano Katatsuki’s provenance
Fumai itsuwa makigami 不昧逸話巻紙, Fumai’s handscroll recounting episodes
Sokuchusai shakuyo reijo 即中斉借用礼状, Sokuchūsai’s letter of thanks for use of the chaire
Sunpohyo 寸法表, a list of the chaire’s dimensions
Research and Image Sources
Mitsui Memorial Museum
Chado bijutsu kansho jiten (Tankosha)
Chadogu no sekai, volume 5 (Tankosha)
