Octagonal Jar with Cover
Unknown Artist
1700
Medium
Porcelain decorated with blue under the glaze, gold and colored enamels (Arita ware, Imari type)
Dimensions
H. (with cover) 24 3/4 in. (62.9 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. V. Everit Macy, 1923
Accession Number
23.225.122a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Octagonal Jar with Cover crafted around 1700 during Japan's Edo period (16151868), exemplifies the pinnacle of Arita porcelain production. Hailing from the renowned Arita kilns in Saga Prefecture, this Imari-type vessel stands an impressive 24¾ inches tall with its lid. Itsagonal form—uncommon for jars—adds a geometric elegance, while decorations in cobalt blue under the glaze, paired with vibrant overglaze enamels gold, likely feature lively animal motifs, evoking nature's vibrancy. Arita ware, particularly the export-oriented Imari style, marked a golden age for Japanese ce...