Seated Figure of Daruma
Unknown Artist
1800
Medium
Faience with feet and face unglazed, the rest covered with enamel (Kyoto ware)
Dimensions
H. 7 1/4 in. (18.4 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
23.225.263
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delightful *Seated Figure of Dar*, created around 1800 during Japan's Edo period (16151868), captures the meditative essence of the legendary Zen monk Bodhidharma in a compact ceramic form. Standing just 7¼ inches (18.4 cm) tall, it hails Kyoto ware, a renowned tradition of faience—tin-glazed earthenware prized for its vibrant enamels and fine craftsmanship. Produced in the bustling cultural hub of Kyoto, such pieces reflect the era's prosperity and artistic innovation, when ceramics flourished alongside ukiyo-e prints and kabuki theater. Artistically, the figure's unglazed feet and face...