Bowl
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Pottery with designs inlaid in the paste and covered with transparent glaze (Yatsushiro ware)
Dimensions
H. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm); Diam. 12 in. (30.5 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Accession Number
91.1.281
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant 18th-century bowl Japan's Edo period (1615–1868) exemplifies the refined artistry of Yatsush ware, a pottery tradition from Kumamoto prefecture Measuring just 3½ inches high and 12 inches in diameter, wide, shallow form was ideal for serving rice, soups, or tea, reflecting the period's emphasis on functional beauty in everyday ceramics. Delicate floral designs, inlaid directly into the clay paste (a technique called *zōgan* or inlay), are preserved under a transparent glaze, creating subtle contrasts that shimmer in the light. Yatsushiro potters mastered this labor-intensive inla...