Object details
Accession number
10.a.1.15
Creators
Full title
The book of tea / by Okakura-Kakuzo
Creation Date
1906
Language
English
Publication Place
New York
Binding Description
green cloth; gilt lettering; gilded top edge
Description
ix, 160 p. ; 20 cm. (HathiTrust rec. #100335594)
Provenance
Entered Isabella Stewart Gardner's collection by 16 May 1905.
Marks
Inscribed in black ink (on front end paper) in Isabella Stewart Gardner's hand: Isabella Stewart Gardner / May 16 1905Inscribed in blue ink (on front end paper) in Isabella Stewart Gardner's hand: Okakura died / Sept 2nd 1913. / the memorial service / for him at / Fenway Court / October 20th 1913
Dimensions
19.6 x 12.1 x 1.9 cm (7 11/16 x 4 3/4 x 3/4 in.)
Display Media
Printed ink on paper
Web 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.
Permanent Gallery Location
Blue Room
Rights and reproductions
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