Flask in the Shape of a Fan
Unknown Artist
1600s
Medium
Imari ware porcelain, molded, carved, and glazed with overglaze enamel decoration
Dimensions
h. 33.3 cm · diam. 19.4 cm
Classification
Ceramic
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
Accession Number
1993.2
About this artwork
Possibly used during the summer, this fan-shaped flask features a phoenix on one side and a tiny bird on the other. It is in the style called kakiemon (after the name of the artisan family). The style is common among Japanese export porcelain known as Imari ware (after the name of the port) or Arita ware (after the name of the city of production). The phoenix is an imaginary bird that generally symbolized the imperial family. The Japanese adapted representations of a long-tailed chicken (chobike...