Wine bottle
Unknown Artist
1800
Medium
Pottery decorated in colored enamels (Awata ware)
Dimensions
H. 9 in. (22.9 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
23.225.16
Art Historical Context
This elegant wine bottle, crafted around 1800 during Japan's Edo period (16151868), exemplifies the artistry of Awata ware, a Kyoto-style pottery renowned for its vibrant colored enamels. Standing at 9 inches tall this ceramic vessel was likely used to serve sake, reflecting the era's thriving urban culture where merchants and samurai alike enjoyed such practical yet beautifully decorated items. The Edo period marked a time of peace and prosperity, fostering innovations in ceramics that blended functionality with aesthetic appeal. Awata ware's signature technique involved applying overglaze e...