Suntory Museum of Art
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Notable Works
Vase in Traveller's Pillow Shape

Notable Works

Ceramics

Vase in Traveller's Pillow Shape

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Place of production or style: Shigaraki ware
Number of components: 1
Format and materials: Pottery
Dimensions (in cm): D. (rim) 7.1, D. (body) 9.7, D. (base) 7.6, H. 18.2
Date of production: Muromachi period 16th century

With the development of the wabi cha tea ceremony in the latter half of the fifteenth century, production of tea wares began in earnest at Shigaraki and Bizen. This work is modeled on a celadon cylindrical vase from China. Since its shape is associated with the simple pillows used when traveling, it was described as the tabimakura (travel pillow) type. As an early-period example of that type, it is particularly valuable. The simple cylindrical form is thickly potted and fired to vitrification. On one side, the thick natural ash glaze terminates in dark green beads of glass. On the other, the surface has turned a reddish-brown color in firing, accented by white grains of feldspar that have burst onto the surface. The vase's surface thus presents bold contrasting effects. In its replacement of a perfectly clear celadon glaze with a rough natural ash glaze we see a distinctively Japanese aesthetic.

Notable Works

Vase in Traveller's Pillow Shape

SUNTORY MUSEUM of ART