Hot Water Pot
16th century
Medium
Lacquer on wood
Dimensions
39 × 33.5 cm (15 3/8 × 13 1/4 in.)
Classification
lacquerware
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
34504
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This pot has a very complex shape compared to the other examples displayed in this case. It has an ornately curved handle, rounded lid, and high, three-part foot, features that can be traced back to Chinese models. It is finished with a coating of red lacquer over a layer of black underneath. Likely employed in Zen temples to hold the hot water used for making tea, it is an object of extreme elegance.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...