The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
Founded in November 1982, the Museum was established by Osaka City, commemorating the donation of the world-renowned Ataka Collection by the twenty-one companies of the Sumitomo Group.
In addition to the core Ataka Collection that comprises mainly Chinese and Korean ceramics, the Museum collection also includes Japanese ceramics as well as works generously donated to the museum, such as the Korean ceramics of the Rhee Byung-chang Collection and works by Hamada Shoji, boasting one of the finest collections of East Asian ceramics in the world in terms of both quality and quantity. Among the collection, two works are registered as National Treasures and thirteen works as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The collection has been enriched by further donations of works associated with East Asian ceramics, including Persian ceramics and Chinese snuff bottles.
In the galleries, we produce systematic displays of approximately three hundred notable works of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese ceramics based on our original concept and forms of presentation. Besides the permanent exhibition, we organize temporary exhibitions and special exhibitions once or twice a year, covering specialized themes with attractive content, combining high academic standards and artistic quality.
International Students studying in Osaka x The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
・The museum's leaflet is available in multiple languages (Japanese, English, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese).
・The museum's leaflet is also available in multiple languages via QR Translator (Japanese, English, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, French, Spanish, German, Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese).
・The artwork captions are provided in two languages (Japanese and English).
・The translated descriptions of the artworks can be viewed on the app, "Pocket Curator" (available in Japanese, English, Korean, and Simplified and Traditional Chinese).
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
Main works
The National Treasure Tea Bowl, Tenmoku, with a glaze featuring silvery spots, was created in China during the Song dynasty when tea preparation was at its peak. The bowl, adorned with a shimmering pattern resembling countless stars and an iridescent sheen similar to oil droplets on water, was named "Yuteki" (Oil Spot) in Japan. The Muromachi shogunate highly prized this type of Tenmoku bowl, which is said to have once been owned by Toyotomi Hidetsugu, a regent (kanpaku). It later passed through the possession of several prominent families, including Nishi Honganji, the Mitsui family in Kyoto, and the Sakai family of Wakasa, before becoming a celebrated National Treasure in Osaka. Its brilliance, reminiscent of a galaxy, continues to captivate many today.
TEA BOWL, Tenmoku, glaze with silvery spots
Southern Song dynasty, 12th-13th century
Jian ware
(gift of SUMITOMO Group, the ATAKA Collection)
Photo：MUDA Tomohiro
The bottle, a National Treasure, is a masterpiece with well-balanced proportions, a beautiful glaze with a moist greenish hue, and exquisitely arranged iron-brown spots. Made at the Longquan kilns during China's Yuan dynasty, it is believed to have been brought to Japan through trade. In China, such bottles were called "Yuhuchun" and were primarily used as vessels for alcohol. However, they were highly valued as flower vases for decorating writing rooms and tea spaces in Japan. This particular bottle was passed down through the wealthy Osaka merchant family, the Konoike, during the Edo period and was affectionately known as "Tobi Seiji."
BOTTLE, celadon with iron brown spots
Yuan dynasty, 14th century
Longquan ware
(gift of SUMITOMO Group, the ATAKA Collection)
Photo：MUDA Tomohiro
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Important Cultural Property
BASIN, White porcelain with carved lotus design -
Important Cultural Property
JAR, Blue-and-white porcelain with design of fish and water plants in a lotus pond - MEIPING VASE, Celadon with inlaid bamboo and crane design
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RICE-BALE-SHAPED BOTTLE,
Buncheong ware with design of bird and fish at a lotus pond - JAR, White porcelain
- JAR, Porcelain with lotus design in underglaze cobalt-blue and copper-red paint
- SQUARE DISH, Stoneware with design of grass and bird
- OCTAGONAL JAR, Porcelain with design of peony and camellia in overglaze enamels
