Cup
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
White porcelain decorated with iron red and gold (Hizen ware, Kutani type)
Dimensions
H. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo (1615–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Charles Stewart Smith, 1893
Accession Number
93.3.513
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite porcelain cup, crafted in 19th-century Japan during the late Edo (1615–1868) or early Meiji (1868–1912) period, exemplifies the mastery of Hizen ware in the vibrant Kutani type. Standing just 2 5/8 inches (6.7 cm) tall, its white body is adorned with bold iron-red enamels and shimmering gold accents, applied in overglaze techniques that allowed for intricate, colorful designs fired at lower temperatures. These methods, perfected in kilns like those in Arita (Hizen province), produced durable yet luxurious ceramics prized for both domestic use and export. The cup's decoration fe...