Nested set of three dishes with cover

Object Details

• Description

  Nested set of three round, straight-sided dishes (a: bottom, b: middle, c: top) with cover (d); low, broad, slightly concave foot, unglazed; cover slightly domed with slightly concave center medallion. Clay: white porcelain; bisque surfaces dirty. Glaze: clear with aqua tint on all but fitting surfaces and foot-rim; imperfect, especially inside with many "pin-holes," black specks (possibly iron inclusions). Decoration: painted in low-fired overglaze enamels. Cloud and vine pattern. The cloud pattern all in iron-red. On cover and top section it is filled with concentric wave pattern; on bottom two sections it is filled with a basketwork-like lattice pattern. The grapevine, drawn in black in naturalistic style, is filled with green, turquoise, blue, yellow and aubergine enamels. The sunken medallion on cover is ornamented with part of a kiri no go-mon (a pawlonia crest) and part of a water wheel, also in polychrome enamels. Accessories: The piece came in a wooden box. Six labels removed from the box are mounted on page 3 of the folder sheet.

• Inscriptions

  This set of dishes came in a wooden box. Six labels removed from the box are mounted on page three of the folder sheet.

• Label

  This stacking set of three serving bowls with lid might have held various snacks to accompany sake (rice wine). The pattern of grapevines partially concealed by clouds filled with geometric patterns echoes designs painted on luxurious silk textiles made in Kyoto.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Cornucopia: Ceramics of Southern Japan (December 19, 2009 to January 9, 2011)

  Tea in the Floating World (December 8, 2002 to May 26, 2003)

  Telling Tales in Japanese Art (November 23, 1996 to August 14, 1997)

  Summer Whites: Japanese Porcelain (July 1, 1983 to March 15, 1984)

  A Decade of Discovery: Selected Acquisitions 1970-1980 (November 9, 1979 to May 22, 1980)

  Harold P. Stern Memorial Exhibition (April 18, 1977 to September 13, 1977)

• Origin

  Arita, Saga prefecture, Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1840s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Place

  Japan, Saga prefecture, Arita

• Topic

  Porcelain, Art, Arita ware, early enamel type, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Cloud, Japanese Art, Grapevine, Ceramics

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)