Jar
Unknown Artist
Medium
Stoneware with painted decoration in underglaze brown iron (Karatsu ware)
Dimensions
H. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm); Diam. 6 in. (15.2 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
Japan · Momoyama period (1573–1615)
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
2002.447.21
Art Historical Context
This modest stoneware jar, a fine example of Karatsu ware Japan's Momoyama period (15731615), exemplifies the's embrace of rustic simplicity and bold functionality. Standing 4½ inches tall a 6-inch diameter its compact form suggests everyday use—perhaps for storing tea, spices, or cosmetics—reflecting the period's vibrant tea culture and domestic life amid samurai grandeur and castle-building. Karatsu ware, produced in Saga Prefecture (then Hizen province), emerged prominently after Japanese potters adopted techniques from Korean immigrants following Toyotomi Hideyoshi's invasions in the 1590...