Okakura Kakuzo (Yokohama, 1862 - 1913, Akakura)
The book of tea / by Okakura-Kakuzo, 1906
Printed ink on paper , 19.6 x 12.1 x 1.9 cm (7 11/16 x 4 3/4 x 3/4 in.)
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Blue Room
Commentary
Isabella was good friends with Okakura Kakuzo, the curator of Chinese and Japanese art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. In the winter of 1905, Okakura presided over a Japanese tea ceremony held by candlelight in the Museum. He presented Isabella with this copy of his newly published essay, The Book of Tea. After Okakura’s untimely death in 1913, she inscribed the book with the dates of his death and of the memorial service she held in his honor at Fenway Court. At the service itself, she gave out copies of the book to those in attendance.