Vegetable Dish
Unknown Artist
1800
Medium
White porcelain decorated with colored enamels (Arita ware)
Dimensions
H. 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm); Diam. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Charles Stewart Smith, 1893
Accession Number
93.3.443
Art Historical Context
This delicate Vegetable Dish, crafted around 1800 during Japan's Edo period (16151868), exemplifies the artistry of Arita wareporcelain produced in the Arita region of Saga Prefecture. Made from fine white porcelain and adorned with vibrant colored enamels over the glaze, the dish measures just 1 7/8 inches high and 5 1/2 inches in diameter perfect for serving small portions of vegetables at the table. These enamels, fired at lower temperatures, allowed artisans to achieve bold, enduring hues that brought everyday objects to life with decorative flair. Arita ware marked a pinnacle in Japanese...