Water Pot
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Clay covered with a white slip and a blue design under the glaze (Kiyomizu ware)
Dimensions
H. 6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo (1615–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Colman, 1893
Accession Number
93.1.111a, b
Art Historical Context
This elegant Water Pot, crafted in the 19th, exemplifies the refined artistry of Kiyomizu ware from Kyoto, Japan. Standing just 6 1/8 inches tall, it is made of clay coated with a smooth white slip, adorned with intricate blue designs painted beneath a clear glaze. This underglaze technique—firing the blue cobalt decoration before applying the transparent glaze—ensures the patterns endure, creating a subtle luminosity that highlights the potter's precision. Produced during the late Edo period (1615–1868) or early Meiji (1868–1912), Kiyomizu ware emerged from Kyoto's Kiyomizu district, renowne...