Teacup and Tea Heater
Medium
Part of an album of woodblock prints (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
5 3/16 x 7 1/8 in. (13.2 x 18.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture
Japan
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
JP2297
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled within an exquisite album of woodblock prints as *surimono*, Ryūgetsusai Shinkō's *Teacup and Tea Heater* the serene elegance of everyday Japanese tea utensils. Rendered in ink and vibrant color on paper, this intimate print measures just 5 3/16 x 7 1/8 inches, inviting close contemplation. Shinkō, a skilled Edo-period artist, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of surimono—luxury prints privately commissioned for poetry gatherings or New Year's celebrations, often featuring mica dusting, embossing, or metallic pigments for a tactile, jewel-like quality. Surimono like this one eleva...