Untitled

Unknown

18th century · Clay covered with glaze (Satsuma ware) · Asian Art

The clean shape of this tea caddy and the unique texture of the glaze are probably what caught Moore’s attention. Tea culture (chanoyu) in Japan dates back to the medieval period and relates to Buddhist practices, but it was primarily Sen no Rikyū (1522–1591) in Kyoto who established the Japanese-style tea. He created austere surroundings for the tea gatherings with a preference for Japanese utensils that are often imperfect or asymmetrical, an aesthetic known as wabi-sabi.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th century

Medium

Clay covered with glaze (Satsuma ware)

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891