17th century (Vietnam)
Tangible Cultural Property, designated by Yamagata Prefecture
Donated by the Homma family
This water jar is thought to have been fired in the 17th century at the Bát Tràng kilns near Hanoi, northern Vietnam.
Beneath the pale green glaze that covers the entire jar are dragon, tiger and cloud patterns in underglaze cobalt blue. The soft, blurry line work is characteristic of Annan blue-and-white’s brush-painted designs. The small handles consist of small animals resembling lizards and mice.
Although this jar is thought to have originally served a different purpose, in Japan it was highly prized by tea masters who used it as a water container in tea ceremony along with a lacquered lid.