Censer in form of a Pleasure Boat
Unknown Artist
1830
Medium
White porcelain decorated in blue under the glaze
Dimensions
H. 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm); w. 6 3/4 in. (17.1 cm); L. 16 in. (40.6 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
23.225.327a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection, this enchanting *Censer in the Form of a Pleasure Boat (1830) hails from Japan's Edo period (16151868), a time of relative peace and cultural flourishing. Crafted by an unknown artist, this whimsical ceramic vessel measures 16 inches long, evoking the leisurely river outings enjoyed by the era's affluent merchants and samurai. Shaped like a traditional Japanese pleasure boat, it served as an incense burner, releasing fragrant smoke through subtle openings, blending utility with playful fantasy. The censer's white porcelain body...