Bowl
Unknown Artist
18th–19th century
Medium
Porcelain decorated in red-orange, blue, green and gilt (Arita ware, Imari style))
Dimensions
H. 5 1/8 in. (13 cm); Diam. 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Edward H. Wells, 1953
Accession Number
53.193.6
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite porcelain bowl, crafted in Japan's Arita ware tradition during the 18th19th century Edo period (1615–1868), showcases the Imari style's bold opulence. Measuring 5 1/8 inches high and 7 1/4 inches in diameter it gleams with vibrant red-orange, blue, greenels, and intricate gilding—hallmarks of overglaze decoration applied after firing. Dragons, a recurring motif suggested by its tags, likely coil dynamically across its surface, embodying power, protection, and imperial might in Japanese lore. Arita, in Saga Prefecture, revolutionized Japanese ceramics in the 17th century by mast...