Bowl
Unknown Artist
1650
Medium
Clay covered with a transparent crackled glaze with streaks (Seto ware, Ofuke type)
Dimensions
H. 2 3/8 in. (6 cm); Diam. 6 in. (15.2 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
93.3.174
Art Historical Context
This delicate bowl, crafted around 1650 during Japan's Edo period (16151868), exemplifies the refined artistry of Seto ware the Ofuke type. Made from clay and coated with a transparent crackled glaze featuring subtle streaks, it measures just 2⅜ inches high and 6 inches diameter—perfectly sized for intimate use, such as serving tea or sweets. The intentional crackle in the glaze, a hallmark of Ofuke ceramics produced in Seto's kilns, creates a textured, ice-like surface that catches the light, blending functionality with subtle elegance. Seto ware, originating from Aichi Prefecture, was a pow...