Small Vase
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Clay covered with glaze (Seto 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
93.1.69
Art Historical Context
This delicate Small Vase, standing just 6 1/8 inches tall, exemplifies the refined artistry of 19th-century Japanese ceramics the Seto kilns. Crafted from clay and coated with a glossy glaze, it hails from either the late Edo period (1615–1868) or early Meiji era (1868–1912), times of cultural flourishing and rapid modernization in Japan. Seto ware, produced in the Aichi Prefecture town of Seto—a hub of pottery-making since ancient times—was renowned for its technical mastery and vibrant glazes, making it a staple for both everyday use and decorative display. The vase's modest size suggests i...