Flower Vase with Phoenix in Paulownia
Medium
Porcelain with molded and carved design and underglaze color
Dimensions
h. 20.6 cm · diam. 15.9 cm
Classification
Ceramic
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of James and Christine Heusinger
Accession Number
2022.199
Tags
About this artwork
The phoenix’s commanding presence on this vase was created by adding clay to the surface of the white clay body and then intricately molding and carving it. Then cobalt blue was used to paint the paulownia tree upon which the phoenix perches. Yohei III used a masking technique, covering the phoenix with paper before adding pink color to the area surrounding it. Firing with an allover transparent glaze created a glossy surface, with the phoenix standing out boldly from the background. The mythica...