Soba cup
Unknown Artist
late 17th–early 18th century
Medium
Porcelain with underglaze blue (Arita ware)
Dimensions
H. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm); Diam. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Harry G. C. Packard Collection of Asian Art, Gift of Harry G. C. Packard, and Purchase, Fletcher, Rogers, Harris Brisbane Dick, and Louis V. Bell Funds, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and The Annenberg Fund Inc. Gift, 1975
Accession Number
1975.268.689
Art Historical Context
This exquisite soba cup, crafted in Arita ware porcelain during Japan's Edo period (late 17th–early 18th century), embodies the refined artistry of everyday life. Measuring just 2 inches tall and 2¾ inches in diameter, it was designed for sipping the flavorful broth accompanying soba noodles—a staple enjoyed by merchants, samurai, and commoners alike in this era of peace and cultural flourishing. Its petite scale made it ideal for personal use at intimate meals or tea gatherings, highlighting the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, where simplicity and imperfection evoke quiet beauty. Arita ware...