Suntory Museum of Art
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Notable Works
Shinnari-type tea kettle with two deities of good fortune design

Notable Works

Metalwork

Shinnari-type tea kettle with two deities of good fortune design

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Place of production or style: Ashiya, Chikuzen
Number of components: 1
Format and materials: Iron
Dimensions (in cm): H. 17.0, D. (rim) 13.3, D. (body) 27.4, W. (with lugs) 28.0, H. (lip) 1.9
Date of production: Muromachi period 15th century

Ashiya, located at the mouth of the Onga River in Fukuoka prefecture, is thought to have been producing cast metal objects in the Kamakura or Northern and Southern Courts periods. Their shinnari tea ceremony kettles were admired for their elegant shapes, smooth surfaces, and beautiful motifs. This object is in the classic shinnari form, but is rather short and broad. Eight ruiza or ornamental knobs have been placed above the shoulders, forming an ornamental band. Circular cartouches in both directions have been applied to the hailstone ground. The hailstone ground, commonly called namazu hada, "catfish skin," extends from shoulders to hips and is regular and smooth. Such designs of circular or rectangular cartouches on a hailstone ground are often seen on Ashiya tea kettles.

Notable Works

Shinnari-type tea kettle with two deities of good fortune design

SUNTORY MUSEUM of ART