Captivating Form, Timeless Beauty
Masterpieces
from the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
Chinese and Korean ceramics that were brought across to the sea to Japan since antiquity were treasured by the Japanese as karamono—fine imported items. From being used as ceremonial furnishings and tea-drinking paraphernalia to becoming part of traditional tea ceremonies and utensils used at the dining table, these objects have become an irreplaceable part of Japanese life. As more rigorous research into these objects has commenced in recent years, so too has the creation of ceramics collections by enthusiasts. Calling these works of art, which have been passed down by the Japanese over the years, an integral aspect of Japanese culture, would not be an overstatement. Join us on a journey of ceramics and culture as we present an outstanding selection of works from the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, which include 2 National Treasures and 12 Important Cultural Properties.
Exhibition Details
Exhibition Period |
|---|
11 July – 3 September 2023Venue: Special Exhibition Hall (3rd floor) Opening Hours:
09:30–17:00 (Sundays, Tuesdays–Thursdays; last admission at
16:30) Closed: Mondays, 18 July (Open on 17 July and 14 August) |
Tickets |
|
|---|---|
| Adults | 1,700 yen (1,500 yen) |
| University and high school students | 1,300 yen (1,100 yen) |
| Junior high and elementary school students | 900 yen (700 yen) |
- Discounted prices reflected in the brackets ( ) are for advance tickets, which can be purchased from 18 April (Tuesday) to 10 July (Monday) 2023.
- Tickets include entry into the Cultural Exchange Exhibition on the fourth floor.
- For discounted tickets, please present personal identification documents that reflect your birth date, such as your passport, health insurance card, or driver’s license at the exhibition hall entrance upon request.
- Students must present their student identification cards
- Preschool children
- Persons with disabilities and up to one accompanying caretaker
- Persons with complimentary tickets
- Persons with relevant Kyushu National Museum memberships
- ICOM members
- Japanese Association of Museums members
Ticketing Information / List of Works
Advance tickets are available from 18 April to 10 July 2023 via the following vendors:
● Art Exhibition
JAPAN application
● Lawson
Ticket (L-code: 83857)
●
Ticket Pia (P-code: 994-198)
● Nishitetsu Tenjin Station (Level 1, Solaria Stage) commuter pass
sale counters
● Kyushu National Museum’s Museum Shop
Regular tickets are available once the exhibition begins from the following vendors:
● Art Exhibition
JAPAN application
● Lawson Ticket
(L-code: 83857)
● Ticket
Pia (P-code: 994-198)
● Kyushu National Museum’s ticketing counters (Level 1)
- Value bundles
available through select ticketing agencies
Please note that purchased tickets cannot be refunded, and that reselling is expressly forbidden. Tickets purchased after the exhibition begins are not eligible for the advance ticket discount. Tickets purchased from third-party vendors (ticketing agencies) may be subject to additional handling fees. In the event that the gallery experiences high visitor volume, visitors may be asked to wait before entering the exhibition space.
We recommend that visitors purchase tickets online prior to their visit to prevent overcrowding at the museum.
Events
Pre-registration required, free admission
In Conversation with Three Great Kilns
Join three masters of Japanese ceramics—Nakazato Tarōemon XIV, Imaizumi Imaemon XIV (Living National Treasure), Sakaida Kakiemon XV—and Sakaida Chiaki (Researcher, Kyushu National Museum) as they discuss key works from the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka.
Please note that this talk will be conducted in Japanese only. Attendees must present their Special Exhibition ticket or QR code to gain entry to the venue. In the event of overwhelming response to this talk, tickets will be given out on a lottery basis. Requests to attend the talk on the day itself will be accepted only if there are vacancies remaining on the day of the talk. The personal information collected for this talk will only be used to contact you regarding this event.
Notice of a new speaker at our talk, In Conversation with Three Great Kilns (updated 14 July)
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Nakazato Tarōemon
XIV is unable to attend this talk session. We offer
our sincere apologies to those who were looking
forward to hearing him speak.
Instead of Mr. Nakazato, Koshiwara potter Fukushima
Zenzō (Living National Treasure) will join our panel
discussion on 29 July.
Free admission
Exhibition Talks: Your All-in-One Guide to Ceramics
Masashi Moriya (Director, The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka)
Imported Chinese and Korean Ceramics, and Japanese Culture
Sakaida Chiaki (Researcher, Kyushu National Museum)
Kobayashi Hitoshi (Acting Curatorial Head, The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka)
An Invitation to World of Korean Ceramics
Jung Eun Jin (Senior Researcher, The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka)
Display and Sales
Kyuhaku Pottery Market
Kyushu National Museum is pleased to present a series of pottery booths as part of the Special Exhibition, Captivating Form, Timeless Beauty: Masterpieces from the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka. These booths will be occupied by potters, ceramists, and ceramics dealers from Fukuoka and Saga prefectures. Want to take a piece of the exhibition home with you? Stop by for a look at the tea bowls, flower vases, plates, coffee cups, and other objects on display!
(Please note that dates and times are subject to last-minute changes)
This exhibition was organised by Kyushu National Museum, Fukuoka Prefecture, The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, and the Yomiuri Shimbun; co-organised by the Kyushu National Museum Promotion Foundation; aided by the Fukuoka Cultural Foundation; specially supported by Dazaifu Tenmangū Shrine; with support from Nishii Co. Ltd. and Kyudenko Co. Ltd., and patronage from Dazaifu City, the Dazaifu Association for Commerce and Industry, the Dazaifu Tourism Association and the Japan Kōgei Association (West Branch).
Chinese Ceramics
National Treasure
Celadon bottle with iron brown spots
Longquan kilns, China, Yuan dynasty, 14th century
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
(Donated by the Sumitomo Group as part of the Ataka Collection)
Important Cultural Property
Blue-and-white porcelain jar depicting fish and water plants in a lotus
pond
Jingdezhen kilns, China, Yuan dynasty, 14th century
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
(Donated by the Sumitomo Group as part of the Ataka Collection)
Important Cultural Property
Celadon bottle with carved peonies and scrolls
Yaozhou kilns, China, Northern Song dynasty,
11th–12th century
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
(Donated by the Sumitomo Group as part of the Ataka Collection)
Porcelain dish with peony motifs in underglaze blue and overglaze enamels
Jingdezhen kilns, China, Ming dynasty, 16th–17th
century
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
(Donated by the Sumitomo Group as part of the Ataka Collection)
Korean Ceramics
Porcelain jar with lotus motifs in underglaze cobalt blue and copper red paint
Korea, Joseon dynasty, late 18th century
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
(Donated by Mr. Ataka Eiichi)
Lobed celadon bowl with carved chrysanthemum motifs
Korea, Goryeo dynasty, 12th century
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
(Donated by the Sumitomo Group as part of the Ataka Collection)
Ritual fu buncheong ware vessel with brushed white slip over inlaid line motifs
Korea, Goryeo dynasty, 15th century
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
(Donated by the Sumitomo Group as part of the Ataka Collection)
Ru celadon in Japan
Celadon dish
Ru kilns, China, Northern Song dynasty, late 11th – early
12th century
Tokyo National Museum
(Donated by Mr. Katori Kuniomi and Ms. Katori Yoshiko)
Celadon narcissus basin
Ru kilns, China, Northern Song dynasty, late 11th – early
12th century
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
(Donated by the Sumitomo Group as part of the Ataka Collection)
Recreating the leisure spaces of Muromachi shogunal residences
This exhibition features a display of objects that were used as furnishings for Emperor Go-Hanazono’s visit in 1437 to the Muromachi shogunal residences. They include paintings by the Chinese painter Yujian, landscapes attributed to Emperor Huizong, as well as celadon vases and incense burners.
Important Cultural Property
Celadon vase with phoenix-shaped handles
Longquan kilns, China, Southern Song dynasty, 13th
century
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
(Donated by the Sumitomo Group as part of the Ataka Collection)
National Treasure
Autumn and Winter Landscapes
Attributed to Emperor Huizong
China, Southern Song dynasty, 12th century
Konchi-in Temple, Kyoto
On display from 11 July–6 August
Yuteki tenmoku tea bowls
Observe the subtle difference in the silver patterning of these yuteki (lit. “oil spot”) tenmoku tea bowls, each unique in their own way despite belonging to the same class of tea vessels.
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
National Treasure
Yuteki tenmoku tea bowl with iridescent luster
Jian kilns, China, Southern Song dynasty,
12th–13th century
(Donated by the Sumitomo Group as part of the Ataka Collection)
Kyushu National Museum
Important Cultural Property
Yuteki tenmoku tea bowl with iridescent luster
Jian kilns, China, Southern Song dynasty, 12th–13th century
All works from the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, were photographed by Muda Tomohiro.
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics was established in 1982 in Nakanoshima, Osaka City. Its collection, which includes 2 National Treasures and 13 Important Cultural Properties, comes in at a staggering 5,711 works, and is renowned worldwide for its quality.
Encounter cultural heritage objects in 8K
The museum is also home to a hands-on controller that replicates the size, shape, and weight of actual objects from their collection, such as the tea bowl shown above. Visitors can move the controller and enjoy a 360-degree view of these objects in 8k resolution.