Bowl
Unknown Artist
17th century (?)
Medium
Clay covered with glaze (Shidoro style)
Dimensions
H. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm); Diam. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1918
Accession Number
18.77.1
Art Historical Context
This elegant bowl from Japan's Edo period (16151868), likely dating to the 17th, exemplifies the refined ceramics of a time when peace and prosperity fueled artistic innovation. Crafted by an unknown artist, it reflects the era's growing merchant class and enthusiasm for everyday luxury, where simple vessels like this could grace tea ceremonies or domestic tables. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1918, it now resides in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Asian Art Department. The bowl's standout feature is its Shidoro-style glaze—a glossy, lead-based coating applied over clay that creates a smo...