Illustrating Japanese Ceramic Art, 1878, Paper

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Kwan-ko-dzu-setsu. Notice historique et descriptive sur les arts et industries japonais. Art céramique. Première (-cinquième) partie. Published by tokyo & … Read more Kwan-ko-dzu-setsu. Notice historique et descriptive sur les arts et industries japonais. Art céramique. Première (-cinquième) partie. Published by tokyo & yokohama, h. Ahrens & co. / c. Lévy, 1876-1878., 1878 5 parts in japanese (5 oblong folio volumes)- between 5 and 11 leaves of japanese text in each and 90 handcoloured litho plates (actually 89 - there are 18 in each part but 15a in the first is a half plate in monochrome). Original blue wrappers, sewn in japanese style, paper labels on upper covers. Together in original blue cloth folder with toggles. The "kwan-ko-dzu-setsu" (illustrated catalogue of archaeological objects) constitutes an interesting and rare early example of japanese lithography, illustrating japanese ceramic art, with highly unusual examples from the treasury of todaiji temple. It was opened only once or twice each century by an imperial commission of which the editor, the renowned antiquarian noritané ninagawa (1835-83), was a member. - occasional light staining. Bindings rubbed, some stitching broken, hinges of folder weakened, but altogether very well preserved. A most appealing hybrid, this records japanese pottery apparently in chronological order from ancient times on, illustrated with quite exquisite lithography and produced with a foreign audience in mind. Noritane was a founder of the tokyo museum and apparently taught edward s. Morse everything morse knew about japanese ceramics. Noritane did plan to extend this series - plates had been prepared for a section on roofing tiles and another on armour - but his death in 1882 put an end to it. Most of the items illustrated here ended up in the morse collection. See less