The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 25, 2024

Inkstone in the Form of a Koto

Inkstone in the Form of a Koto

1600s
(1573-1615) to Edo period (1615-1858)
Stoneware with underglaze iron decoration (Shino ware, Mino type)
Overall: 4.4 x 19.2 x 7 cm (1 3/4 x 7 9/16 x 2 3/4 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Stone 1971.168
Location: not on view

Description

This hollow ink stone shaped like a musical instrument called a koto reflects the witty idea that music can inspire writing. The koto’s string and bridge were incised into the clay and then painted with underglaze iron pigment.
  • Rosanjin Collection; Kaneda Kaichiro; Kuroda Toen.
  • Cleveland Museum of Art, and Sŏn Sŭng-hye. The Lure of Painted Poetry: Japanese and Korean Art. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2011. Mentioned and reproduced: P. 16-17, no. 2
  • The Lure of Painted Poetry: Cross-cultural Text and Image in Korean and Japanese Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (April 15-August 21, 2011).
    Scholar's Studio. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 19-December 17, 1989).
    Katachi: Form and Spirit in Japanese Art. The Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM (organizer) (March 2-June 8, 1980).
    "Year in Review," CMA 1972.
    "Art for Collectors," CMA 1971, (no cat.).
    Kyoto Museum (1966-1967).
  • {{cite web|title=Inkstone in the Form of a Koto|url=false|author=|year=1600s|access-date=25 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1971.168