Deep Bowl
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Pottery (Shigaraki ware)
Dimensions
H. 3 1/4 x 4 3/4 x 4 1/4 in. (8.3 x 12.1 x 10.8 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
91.1.240
Art Historical Context
This deep bowl, crafted in the 18th century during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868), exemplifies the charm of Shigaraki ware, one of the nation's Six Ancient Kilns. Produced in the Shigaraki region near Kyoto, this pottery tradition dates back over a millennium and is renowned for its unglazed stoneware, fired in wood-burning kilns that create natural ash glazes and earthy textures. Measuring just 3¼ inches high and nearly 4¾ inches wide, the bowl's compact, sturdy form suggests everyday use—perhaps for serving tea, rice, or soups in a merchant's home or tea house. Shigaraki ware embodies the w...