The Miyaou Katatsuki Chaire

Representative Dogu of the Possesions of the House of Ii and Naosuke’s Own Works

As the hereditary head of the House of Ii he received or possessed many chadogu that have been passed down to modern times. Naosuke himself also made a great number of chadogu, which became a part of the House of Ii’s collection. Here, let us have a look at the highlights of these many chadogu.

Dogu Possessed by the House of Ii

  • Nogime Tenmoku, Tsuishu Kaki-bun Tenmoku Dai nose
  • Awn-eyed Chinese Bowl set upon a Red Lacquered Stand Carved with Flowering Vines

As “Nogime” (lit. Awn-Eye) indicates the iron in the black glaze expresses a woodgrain-like pattern that stands out like the grains of wheat, it has a vibrancy beyond imagination.

  • Kodou Gengetsu Tsuri Hanaike
  • Old Copper Crescent Moon Fishing Vase

Made of old copper which has tin and lead added in, the wide lower outer portion has a design of arranged clouds called “the moon in gathering clouds” (Tsuki-ni-Murakumo).

  • Dou-tokin Tachibana-mon Karakusa Jimon Aya Kama/Furo
  • Copper-gilt Tachibana-crested Flowering-vine Woven Patterned Kettle and Brazier

The family crest of the House of Ii–the tachibana flower–was used as a design. A mizusashi of the same style has also been passed down, so it is conjectured a full kaigu set was made.

  • Miyaou Katatsuki Chaire Daimeibutsu
  • The Greatly Famed Miyaou Shouldered Tea Caddy

This chaire, associated with its former possessor Miyaou Saburou Daibu, is a family treasure of the House of Ii that evidences their loyalty to the House of Tokugawa.

  • Seiji Kouro
  • Celadon Censor

It is said that in Genroku 7 (1694), this censor was bestowed upon Naooki, the fourth lord of the province, upon the occasion of traveling with Tokugawa Tsunayoshi.

  • Ryokukatsu-yu Yotsu-mimi Tsubo
  • Green-brown Glazed Four-eared Pot

This Luzon Tsubo that Naotaka, the second lord of the province, purchased is one of the chatsubo certified by Kobori Enshu.

井伊家所蔵、直弼自作の代表的道具
井伊家は譜代筆頭の称号通り、多くの茶道具を拝領領・所持し、現在に伝えています。直弼もまた茶道具を多数手がけており、それは井伊家のコレクションの一部となっています。ここではそんな見所満載の茶道具を見ていきましょう。

井伊家所蔵道具
◆禾目天目・堆朱花卉文天目台のせ
「禾目」は黒釉中の鉄分が筋目状現れた姿を麦の穂先に見立てたもので、想像以上に鮮やかです。
◆古銅弦月釣花生
銅に鉛や錫を加えた古銅製で、幅の広い下辺外側に雲を配した「月に叢雲」の意匠です。
◆銅鍍金橘紋唐草地紋文釜・風炉
井伊家家紋の橘を意匠化したもので、他に水指なども伝わり、皆具で作成されたと推測されます。
◆宮王肩衝茶入　大名物
旧蔵者・宮王三郎大夫に因むこの茶入は、井伊家の徳川家への忠孝の証である家宝です。
◆青磁香炉
元禄七年（一六九四）、徳川綱吉の御成に同行した四代藩主・直興が拝領したと伝えています。
◆緑褐釉四耳壺
二代藩主・直孝が購入したこの呂宋壺は小堀遠州のお墨付きの茶壺の一つです。