Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

JAPANESE ROYAL CERAMIC VASE

Date Range From

1982

Date Range To

1992

Materials

CERAMIC, WOOD, METAL (TIN?)

No. Pieces

4

Height

25.5

Description

1. VASE -- DIAMETER: 9.5 - 17.5 CM; CIRCUMFERENCE: 30.0 - 56.5 CM; THE VASE IS DARK BLUE WITH WIDE SHOULDER AND SHORT NECK, WHICH IS GOLD AROUND THE RIM. THE VASE IS DECORATED WITH ONE CIRCULAR GOLD CHRYSANTHEMUM DESIGN (3.9 CM). THE BASE OF THE VASE IS A SLIGHTLY SPLAYED FOOT. THE EDGE OF THE FOOT IS WHITE. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BASE IS WHITE. IT IS MARKED WITH JAPANESE CHARACTERS IN BLUE. THE INSIDE OF THE VASE IS WHITE. 2. STAND FOR VASE -- DIAMETER: 13.5 CM; HEIGHT: 4.0 CM; CIRCUMFERENCE: 43.2 CM; THE VASE SITS ON THE RAISED PORTION, WHICH HAS A DIAMETER OF 0.9 CM. THE BASE OF THE STAND HAS THREE SMALL LEGS (HEIGHT: 0.5 CM); THE STAND IS MADE FROM ONE PIECE OF WOOD. THE CENTRE OF THE UNDERSIDE HAS A RECESSED CIRCLE (DIAMETER: 4.5 CM; HEIGHT: 0.8 CM). 3. INNER CONTAINER (STORES VASE AND STAND) -- DIAMETER: 21.5 X 21.5 X 34.2 CM ROUNDED CORNERS; THE FRONT OF THE CONTAINER SLIDES UP TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE VASE AND STAND. THE FRONT IS IDENTIFIED BY A CARVED BAND 0.9 CM AND 1.2 CM AROUND THE EDGE OF THE FRONT PANEL. 4. OUTER CONTAINER WITH LID (CONTAINS THE INNER CONTAINER). DIMENSIONS: 23.7 X 23.7 X 35.5 CM (INCLUDING THE LID); HEIGHT OF THE LID 2.5 CM; ROUNDED CORNERS; ON ONE SIDE OF THE CONTAINER IS A PAPER LABEL. IT READS "JAPANESE CRACKERS; MARUKITO TRADE MARK REG.U.S.PAT.OFF. NO747391 KAKIDANE ARARE (UNDERNEATH ARE JAPANESE CHARACTERS); INGREDIENTS RICE, SUGAR, SOY SAUCE, (WATER, SOYBEAN, WHEAT & SALT), MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, LAVER [CROSSED OUT], RED PEPPER; NET WT. 227G X 24; PACKED BY SHIMIZU & CO. LTD.; YOKOHAMA; MADE IN JAPAN". THE PICTURE IS OF A SNOW-CAPPED VOLCANO IN THE BACKGROUND AND A BAMBOO BRANCH WITH PLUM BLOSSOMS IN FOREGROUND. COLORS ON THE LABEL ARE BLACK, YELLOW, WHITE, RED, BLUE, BROWN, PINK, AND GREEN. THERE IS BROWN PACKING TAPE AROUND THE EDGE OF THE LID AND NEAR THE TOP OF THE CONTAINER. CLEAR TAPE IS ACROSS THE LID. BOTH TAPES WERE ORIGINALLY USED TO KEEP THE CONTAINER CLOSED. HANDWRITTEN ON THE TOP OF THE LID: "25TH ANNIVER. VASE". THE CONTAINER IS SILVER ON THE OUTSIDE AND BRASS-COLORED ON THE INSIDE.

Subjects

CEREMONIAL ARTIFACT

Historical Association

COMMEMORATIVE

History

THE VASE WAS A GIFT FROM PRINCE AND PRINCESS TAKAMADO OF JAPAN ON THE OCCASION OF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY (MAY 1992) OF THE OPENING OF THE NIKKA YUKO JAPANESE GARDEN. BOTH THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS ARE FLUENT IN ENGLISH. THEY HAVE STUDIED AT QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY (KINGSTON, ONTARIO) AND IN ENGLAND RESPECTIVELY. PRINCE TAKAMADO IS THE NEPHEW OF PRINCE TAKAMATSU, WHO OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING OF THE JAPANESE GARDENS IN 1997, AND IS A COUSIN OF THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN (1997).

Catalogue Number

P19950076002

Acquisition Date

1997-06

Collection

Museum

Less detail