Untitled

Aoki Mokubei

ca. 1800 · Porcelain decorated in enamels and gold (Kyoto ware) · Asian Art

The Kyoto potter and painter Aoki Mokubei created tea wares that engaged with the Chinese practice of revisiting things of the past, such as legends of sages and deities of good fortune. This bowl can be seen as an emulation of another culture, with the auspicious Chinese iconographies, including dragons, cranes, turtles, playful Chinese boys (karako), and objects referencing learning and felicitous treasures. Related themes were central to Edo-period literati culture.

Artist

Aoki Mokubei

Date

ca. 1800

Medium

Porcelain decorated in enamels and gold (Kyoto ware)

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. V. Everit Macy, 1923