Hexagonal Bottle
Unknown Artist
ca. 1850
Medium
Pottery (Hizen ware, Kutani type)
Dimensions
H. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 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
91.1.209
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate hexagonal bottle, crafted around 1850 during Japan's Edo period (1615–8), exemplifies the refined artistry of Hizen ware pottery in the vibrant Kutani style. Standing just 6⅝ inches (16.8 cm) tall, its faceted form and intricate decorations of flowers and leaves showcase the period's mastery of ceramics. Produced in the Hizen region of Kyushu (famous for Arita kilns), this piece features bold, polychrome overglaze enamels typical of Kutani-type wares—vibrant hues of red, green, and gold applied after firing to create enduring, jewel-like motifs. Hizen ware rose to prominence in ...