Tea Things

Art Historical Context

**Tea Things** by Totoya Hokkei, delicate 19th-century woodblock from Japan's Edo period (16151868), captures the elegance of everyday tea utensils—saucers and trays arranged in intimate still life. Hokkei, a skilled ukiyo-e artist pupil of the famed Katsushika Hokusai, specialized in *surimono*, privately commissioned prints often created for special occasions like New Year's greetings or poetry gatherings. Measuring just 7 3/4 x 6 9/16 inches, this intimate format was typical of *surimono*, which were luxurious, limited-edition works shared among elite circles rather than mass-produced for the public. Printed with vibrant inks and colors on paper, *Tea Things* exemplifies the technical mastery of woodblock printing, where intricate carvings allowed for subtle gradients (*bokashi*) and precise details that evoke the glossy sheen of ceramics. Tea culture, central to Japanese social life during the Edo era, symbolized harmony and mindfulness; Hokkei's composition likely reflects this ritualistic beauty, inviting viewers to appreciate the humble objects' poetic grace. Part of the H. O. Havemeyer Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, it offers a window into the sophisticated tastes of urban Japan, blending artistry with cultural reverence for the tea ceremony's quiet splendor.

About the Artist

Totoya Hokkei · 1780–1850

Totoya Hokkei (魚屋 北渓, 1780–1850), born Iwakubo Tatsuyuki in Edo (modern Tokyo), began his life as a humble fishmonger in the Yotsuya Samegahashi district, a trade reflected in his art name "Totoya," meaning fish shop. He transitioned to art through rigorous training, first studying under Kanō Yōsen'in Korenobu, head of the Kobikichō branch of the prestigious Kanō school, where he honed landscape p...