染付紅葉賀文鎮|Paperweight (Bunchin) with Maple Branch and Bugaku Hat from “An Imperial Celebration of Autumn Foliage” (Momiji no ga), Chapter 7 of The Tale of Genji
Unknown Artist
second half 18th century
Medium
Molded porcelain with cobalt blue under transparent glaze (Mikawachi ware)
Dimensions
H. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm); L. 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. V. Everit Macy, 1923
Accession Number
23.225.79
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate paperweight (*bunchin*), crafted in Japan's Edo period (second half of 18th century), the refined artistry of Mikawachi porcelain from Saga on Kyushu island. Molded and painted with cobalt blue under a glaze, it stands just 1¾ inches high and stretches 7⅛ inches long—ideal for holding down scrolls or papers on a scholar's desk. The vivid blue motifs against white porcelain evoke the crisp elegance of Japanese ceramics, blending functionality with aesthetic pleasure. The design draws directly from Chapter 7 of *The Tale of Genji*, the 11th-century masterpiece by Murasaki Shikibu ...