Hand-held Teapot
Medium
Porcelain with molded and carved design and cream glaze
Dimensions
w. 9.5 cm
Classification
Ceramic
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of James and Christine Heusinger
Accession Number
2022.174.a
Tags
Asian (from 1900 to present)male
About this artwork
This teapot is of a variety used by advanced sencha practitioners. Called a hōhin, the pot is designed to be held directly by the fingers, with the body touching the upper part of the palm. This shape allows the host to manipulate the pot with a single hand and demonstrate dexterity. Direct contact between the ceramic body and the hand allows the host to closely gauge the temperature of the water within. There are differing grades of sencha, and for the finest one, gyokuro, the water temperatur...