Vase with lid
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Porcelain decorated with enamels (Arita ware, Imari type)
Dimensions
H. (with lid) 27 7/8 in. (70.8 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
23.225.142a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant vase with lid, standing an impressive 27⅞ inches tall, exemplifies the pinnacle of 18th-century Japanese porcelain from the Edo period (1615–1868). Produced in Arita, Saga Prefecture—the birthplace of Japan's porcelain industry—this Imari-type piece is decorated with vibrant enamels, a technique that allowed artisans to apply colorful overglaze designs fired at lower temperatures for lasting brilliance. Floral motifs, a hallmark of Imari ware, likely adorn its surface, celebrating nature's beauty in bold reds, blues, and golds. Arita ware revolutionized Japanese ceramics during t...