{"product_id":"the-crucifixion-as-an-oribe-yaki-statue-circa-1573-1637-an-extraordinarily-rare-kakure-kirishitan-statue-of-the-crucifixion-produced-by-early-pottery-and-glaze-methods-likely-pre-dating-the-tokugawa-period-of-persecution","title":"The Crucifixion as an Oribe-yaki Statue, Circa 1573- 1637. An Extraordinarily Rare Kakure Kirishitan Statue of the Crucifixion, Produced by Early Pottery and Glaze Methods. Likely Pre-Dating the Tokugawa Period of Persecution","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eTitle: The Crucifixion as an Oribe-yaki Statue, Circa 1573-\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e1637. An Extraordinarily Rare Kakure Kirishitan Statue of the Crucifixion, Produced by Early Pottery and Glaze Methods. Likely Pre-Dating the Tokugawa Period of Persecution\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Likely Mino Based Potter; Possibly the Yashichida Kiln\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Very Good\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eAn extraordinarily rare, Azuchi-Momoyama to Early Edo Period, late 16th to mid 17th century statue of The Crucifixion but produced using the early pottery method of Oribe-yaki, using Mino based clay, and a Green Oribe glaze. The piece itself is a crucifixion icon that is then within a much larger cross. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eWhile there is no inscribed date, the rough, slightly deformed style of pottery, the faded glaze, and the subject itself points to the dating of this piece being produced as early as the Azuchi-Momoyama and Early Edo Periods.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eFollowing the increased levels of Christian persecutions and martyrdoms under the Tokugawa Shogunate, many Kakure Kirishitan artifacts were often made with very subtle details and features to avoid destruction. But a piece like this, so very blatantly Christian in nature, is an unthinkable production for the later centuries of the Edo Period, and coupling that with the early style of production, and the possible attribution to the\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eYashichida kiln\u003c\/b\u003e in the Okaya group for its use of green glaze, I would have to conclude that this was likely produced during the earlier period when Christianity was not bearing the full brunt of erasure and persecution. At the very least, it should date no later than 1638, when the Christian-led Shimabara Rebellion and subsequent massacre of rebels led to remaining Christians going into hiding or renouncing their faith.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eIn trying to find any possible comparative examples, I have not been able to identify any existing examples of such Christian Oribe-yaki piece. As far as current research efforts are concerned, this is the only known example of a Christian Oribe-yaki piece dating from the Azuchi-Momoyama or Early Edo Period, at least in any Western holdings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThe cross was acquired from a Japanese dealer, who purchased the private estate of a retired local historian, and former member of the Cultural Properties Protection Commission. Having collected and sold or donated most of his private collection, roughly ten Kakure Kirishitan artifacts were kept and sold, among which include this piece and the Maria Kannon piece also in this catalog. His decision to sell them was purportedly made with the hope that they would be passed on as part of the World Cultural Heritage \"Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region.\" It also appears he loaned out regularly to museums, as this piece still has the original note from when it was loaned to a local museum in Reihoku at one point. It should be noted that among the other items in the collection, there was an original printing block for the Kami Fumi-E prints, as well as several other, early statues and pieces.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eOn the actual localization for where this Oribe-yaki piece was produced, the historian speculated that it could have been passed down through the family of a wealthy merchant in the Oka domain of Bungo. The area was home to the Furuta Clan, descendants of the tea ceremony master Furuta Oribe. Furthermore, the founder of this Oka domain, Lord Nakagawa Kiyohide, was closely related to Furuta Oribe, one of the Seven Philosophers of Rikyu, and to Takayama Ukon, a Christian feudal lord in the Kinki region, as a brother-in-law and cousin. Since no Oribe-yaki artifacts have been discovered or excavated in or around the Oka domain, and no trace of a kiln remains, it is plausible to that the Oribi-yaki was crafted elsewhere and then ended up here. As for where it was crafted, the best possibility is the \u003cb\u003eMino Region\u003c\/b\u003e, which was the center of Oribe-yaki production. Given the connection between Christianity and the three figures, it seems like a plausible likelihood, and the only one I could think of.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThe cross has been stored in a wooden box for preservation, and placed in a smaller, earlier wooden box.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eOne ceramic cross made with clay and an unknown glaze, 14.8 x 9.4 cm \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThis ceramic cross is in very good shape, with wear and rubbing to the piece. There is a small crack that has developed in a corner, though it has not spread. The central piece of the crucifixion is still in a good relief, though you can see small cracks developing from the center. The green glaze has worn away in quite a few places.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"That Guy With The Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51632564142391,"sku":null,"price":25000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0281\/1589\/4371\/files\/20251229_225046.jpg?v=1769914082","url":"https:\/\/thatguywiththebooks.com\/products\/the-crucifixion-as-an-oribe-yaki-statue-circa-1573-1637-an-extraordinarily-rare-kakure-kirishitan-statue-of-the-crucifixion-produced-by-early-pottery-and-glaze-methods-likely-pre-dating-the-tokugawa-period-of-persecution","provider":"That Guy With The Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}