Incense Burner
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Clay covered with a transparent glaze clouded with white (Kiyomizu ware)
Dimensions
H. 4 5/8 in. (11.7 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo (1615–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Colman, 1893
Accession Number
93.1.199a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate incense burner, crafted by an unknown Japanese artist in the 19th century, exemplifies the refined artistry of Kiyomizu ware—a renowned ceramic style from Kyoto's Kiyomizu district. Standing just 4 5/8 inches (11.7 cm) tall, it is formed from clay coated with a transparent glaze artfully clouded with white, creating a soft, ethereal glow that enhances its subtle elegance. Lion motifs, a common protective symbol in Japanese art known as *shishi* or guardian lions, likely adorn its surface, evoking strength and warding off evil spirits. Dating to the late Edo period (1615–1868) or...