Flower Vase
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
White porcelain with large crackle covered with a thin brown wash
Dimensions
H. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 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
Purchase by subscription, 1879
Accession Number
79.2.1218
Art Historical Context
This delicate flower vase, crafted in Japan during the 19th century—likely the late Edo period (161–1868) or Meiji era (1868–1912)—exemplifies the refined artistry of Japanese porcelain. Standing just 7½ inches (19.1 cm) tall, its white body features a striking large crackle pattern, created during firing to produce a network of fine fissures. These cracks are then highlighted by a thin brown wash lending the surface a subtle, aged patina that evokes natural textures like tree bark or weathered stone. The crackle technique, known as *kire* in Japanese ceramics, was a hallmark of sophisticated...