Ewer

Object Details

• Description

  Ewer (suichu or mizutsugi) (^j^)

  Cylindrical neck with constricted throat; body with swelling shoulders and tapered base on spreading foot. Single handle attached to neck and mid-body, ending in curl; central groove along length of handle; hole pierced in handle near neck. Upright spout swollen at base and everted at rim.

  Clay: porcelain; white, translucent, with some small inclusions.

  Glaze: transparent with slight bluish cast, deeper blue and bubbled where thicker around spout and handle.

  Decoration: in underglaze cobalt of varying tonalities. Around cylindrical neck, narrow band of vinescroll above broader band containing chrysanthemum blossoms with leaves, in profile. Solid blue band around constricted throat. On shoulder below neck, band of zigzags above band of "herringbone" leaflike motif. On handle, simple "fishbone" pattern. On spout, banana leaves rising from base to midpoint of spout. Major design on body is pastiche of landscape motifs: cliffs with vines and vegetation; banana plant, rocks, and stream; Chinese balloon flower plant (kikkyo); palm tree. Tapered base repeats band of leaflike motif found on shoulder. Solid blue band around narrowest diameter of base. Band of zigzag motif on spreading foot. Executed in line and wash, the wash applied with a stiff blunt brush and not well controlled.

  Mark: not marked.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

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

  Varieties of 17th-Century Arita Porcelain (November 7, 1986 to July 19, 1988)

• Origin

  Probably Chokichidani kiln, Arita, Saga prefecture, Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Mason W. Wang

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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  collections.si.edu

• 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, Chokichidani kiln

• Topic

  Trees, Landscapes, Cobalt pigment, Porcelain, Art, Chrysanthemum, Arita ware, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Ceramics, Flowers, Rivers

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)