Suntory Museum of Art
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Notable Works
Ash-glazed vase with peony design

Notable Works

Ceramics

Ash-glazed vase with peony design

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Place of production or style: Seto
Number of components: 1
Format and materials: Pottery
Dimensions (in cm): D. (rim) 4.3, D. (body) 13.7, D. (base) 9.7, H. 27.6
Date of production: Kamakura period 14th century

This vase was created in imitation of a Chinese qingbai-glazed porcelain meipin vase. A raised band has been applied to the narrow neck. The shoulders describe springy curves; the body narrows in a straight line towards the bottom. A large, powerful peony arabesque has been inscribed in fine lines made with a rounded chisel (a technique called kakka) on the shoulders and body. A combed pattern circles the shoulders, below the neck, and the lower part of the peony motif, in the mid body. A yellow-green ash glaze has been applied down to the bottom edge. Seto, alone among Japan's medieval pottery centers, produced high-fired glazed ceramics. It produced high quality wares modeled on Chinese ceramics.

Notable Works

Ash-glazed vase with peony design

SUNTORY MUSEUM of ART