14 juin 2024
Bottle, buncheong ware, Joseon dynasty, 16th century
Bottle, buncheong ware with overall slip coating (kohiki), Joseon dynasty, 16th century. Height (cm) 18.1. Maximum Diameter (cm) 14.6. Weight (g) 884. The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka (gift of SUMITOMO Group, the ATAKA Collection), photograph by MUDA Tomohiro (Accession No. 00156).
The little V-shaped spout on the lip makes pouring liquid easier, and the slight concave of the body enables the bottle to fit well in the hand. The whole body is covered with white slip, known as the kohiki technique. The smears that appeared due to the longtime use were actually appealing to the Japanese, especially tea masters who treasured this work, naming it amamori (rain leaking). Some areas which were left uncovered with slip, exposing the clay body, as well as those that show traces of repair with gold or lacquer, add a sense of elegance and charm to the work. Perhaps such elements appealed to the wabi taste of the Japanese, as this bottle is said to have been used as a special sake bottle for kaiseki meals served in tea gatherings. It was formerly owned by the Maeda family of Kaga domain (present-day Ishikawa Prefecture) and was passed down through many generations. It is undoubtedly one of the greatest masterpieces among buncheong kohiki bottles preserved in Japan.
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