Ewer with willow and plum blossoms, early 17th century
Unknown Japaneseexpand_more
Mino ware, Oribe type; stoneware with iron oxideexpand_more
Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundationexpand_more 2015.79.309a,b
Not on Viewexpand_more
Oribe ceramics, which were made from the late 1600s to early 1700s at kilns in the area of Mino Province in central Japan, often feature colorful, sometimes abstract designs and take whimsical, asymmetrical forms. Oribe ware takes its name from Furuta Oribe (1544–1615), a famous master of the Japanese tea ceremony whose particular aesthetic taste is said to have influenced the development of these ceramics. Although the exact function of Oribe ewers remains unclear, they may have been used during the tea ceremony to replenish larger basins of water.
One side of this ewer features young willow boughs, while the other side shows falling plum blossoms. Willow and plum, both drawn in underglaze iron oxide, are classic decorative motifs that celebrate the fleeting beauty of early spring.
Details
- Title
- Ewer with willow and plum blossoms
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2015.79.309a,b
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Murase, Art through a Lifetime, no. 640
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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