Bunkyo Matsuki to Charles Lang Freer, February 11, 1903

Bunkyo Matsuki to Charles Lang Freer, February 11, 1903

Letter From Matsuki Bunkyo to Freer

First the black glaze with deep mysterious quality 2nd the form, unusually tall no potter ever did like it. 3rd the irregularity in modelling the badly touch it with your hands. 4th unique same old shaving away scar of his famous bamboo knife. 5th the quality of clay showing on stork and maple leaf. 6th the way he stopped running down glaze which forms shoulder, neck and back. It is extraordinary. 7th the signature strong and masterly and 8th the last of all the design which nobody but you yourself is the judge. I hope you would not blame me as to the price in fact I never expect to have it. It made me sick when I saw it in Japan last summer. It was in the possession of famous Chajin in Okayama named Makiura and struggled hard befor I got it I did put up money but do not keep it if you think otherwise than what I consider.

1903

F1903.45

Letter

Feb. 11th '03

Dear Mr. Freer:
I hope you have received two bells by this time. The carvings went too high so I thought I would not buy when I get good things I will offer you better chance and at more reasonable prices. Here I send you to-day by express paid a great pottery of which I was talking about last 3 months. It is black Koyetsu jar. I wish you will carefully examine it if you doubt and on your eyes may catch it in first sight.
First the black glaze with deep mysterious quality 2nd the form, unusually tall no potter ever did like it. 3rd the irregularity in modelling the badly touch it with your hands. 4th unique same old shaving away scar of his famous bamboo knife. 5th the quality of clay showing on stork and maple leaf. 6th the way he stopped running down glaze which forms shoulder, neck and back. It is extraordinary. 7th the signature strong and masterly and 8th the last of all the design which nobody but you yourself is the judge. I hope you would not blame me as to the price in fact I never expect to have it. It made me sick when I saw it in Japan last summer.
It was in the possession of famous Chajin in Okayama named Makiura and struggled hard befor I got it I did put up money but do not keep it if you think otherwise than what I consider.
I sent you in same box a rare Tamba bottle which you bought of me two years ago and I mislaid somewhere and discovered lately it was possessed by 2nd Dohachi whose writing on the cover of box and pottery badger stopper which was made by himself.
The wonderful bell was also included in the box as a token of my best wishes it is finer bell than anything I had in my sale (the bells) it really belong to your chapel it has two disinctly separate tone my brother in Kioto secured it for me from old temple in Kitadani or North Valley near Otsu.
You will find box arare or rain drop a Japanese soup cracker for you table.
Will kindly hand the $5.00 bill to Mr. Steven which I owe him and entirely forgotten. I will tell you myself so do not ask him any question. I hope you would not consider me too impolite to ask you to do this.
The sale was successful and some paid good prices but many good things were thrown away but I did not attempted to save it. Prof. Fenollosa admired very much of my things. Tsukioka painting went too high and as you did not see it I thought wise not to get it.

Will write you again with my kind regards,
Yours faithfully
BUNKIO MATSUKI