Nested set of three dishes with cover

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.

Historical period(s)
Edo period, 1650-1670
Medium
Porcelain with enamels over clear colorless glaze
Style
Arita ware, early enamel type
Dimensions
H x W x D: 15 x 14.3 x 14.3 cm (5 7/8 x 5 5/8 x 5 5/8 in)
Geography
Japan, Saga prefecture, Arita
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1974.29a-d
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Nested dishes (jubako)

Keywords
Arita ware, early enamel type, cloud, Edo period (1615 - 1868), grapevine, Japan, porcelain
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
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.

Inscription(s)

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.

Published References
  • Julia Murray. A Decade of Discovery: Selected Acquisitions 1970-1980. Exh. cat. Washington, 1979. cat. 74, p. 94.
Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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