Hexagonal Sake Ewer with Landscape Design
Unknown Artist
early 19th century
Medium
Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (Hirado ware)
Dimensions
H. (Handle to base) 6 3/4 in. (17.1 cm); W. (inc. end of spout) 6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm);
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Dr. and Mrs. Roger G. Gerry Collection, Bequest of Dr. and Mrs. Roger G. Gerry, 2000
Accession Number
2002.447.126a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite hexagonal sake ewer, crafted in early 19th-century during the Edo period (5–1868), the refined artistry of Hirado ware. Produced on the island of Hirado in Nagasaki Prefecture, this type of ceramic was renowned for its thin, translucent body and delicate underglaze blue decoration a technique where cobalt pigment is applied beneath the glaze before firing, yielding vibrant, enduring blues resistant to wear. The ewer's faceted hexagonal form—standing just 6¾ inches tall and 6⅛ inches wide—adds an elegant geometric flair, while the landscape design evokes Japan's deep reverence fo...