Bowl
Unknown Artist
1780
Medium
Porcelain decorated with enamels (Arita ware, Imari type)
Dimensions
H. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm); Diam. 10 1/4 in. (26 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. V. Everit Macy, 1923
Accession Number
23.225.153
Art Historical Context
This elegant porcelain bowl, crafted around 1780 during Japan's Edo period (16151868), exemplifies the of Arita ware, the vibrant Imari type. Produced in the Saga region of Kyushu, Arita kilns were renowned for their high-quality porcelain, fired at intense temperatures to achieve a translucent body. The bowl's shallow form—standing just 3½ inches high and spanning 10¼ inches in diameter—makes it ideal serving rice, soups, or communal dishes, reflecting everyday refinement in Japanese domestic life. Artistically, the piece showcases overglaze enamel decoration, a technique where colorful pigm...