Bottle thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Bottle

ca. 1700-1850 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Admired for its rustic undecorated and unglazed quality Bizen wares, produced in the thriving ceramic centre of Okayama prefecture, were aesthetically admired rather than purely utilitarian pieces. Iron rich clay collected from the mineral rich soil of the paddy fields created the warm and subtle gradiations in colour as illustrated on this tea vessel. Manipulation of firing and cooling techniques within the kilns created dynamic surface decoration that was both simple and restrained. The dark brown hues of this bottle, caused by an abundance of ash within the cooling kiln, were a form of kiln mutation known as 'Yohen' and was particularly admired. These visual effects, previously considered the detriment of hasty and cheap manufacture, became to be appreciated on Bizen wares due to their unique rustic appearance and elegant simplicity.

The wide base and monumental form of the Bizen bottles, as exemplified by this piece, was ideal for the storage of large volumes of liquid; while the delicate neck and rounded lip of the bottle was suitable for pouring. The muted colour, lack of glaze and decoration was ideal for a piece that would probably have been used in the inns and homes around Japan. Its warm colour and unadorned natural appearance was admired for its wabi or 'quiet taste'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Stoneware, thrown and partially sculpted, with natural ash glaze
Brief description
Bottle, stoneware of Bizen pottery, Bizen, Japan, ca. 1700 - 1850
Physical description
Bottle, with a wide base, gently thinning to a small short neck with a gently curved and shaped rim. Large in size this vessel was used for storage of liquids and due to its thick wide base was a very stable and well-potted utilitarian vessel. A distinctive iron brown and reddish glaze covers the entirety of the stoneware vessel while the sides of the vessel have also been compressed to form shallow recesses.
Dimensions
  • Height: 28.5cm
  • Diameter: 14.8cm
Style
Credit line
Given by Alexander Bruce
Summary
Admired for its rustic undecorated and unglazed quality Bizen wares, produced in the thriving ceramic centre of Okayama prefecture, were aesthetically admired rather than purely utilitarian pieces. Iron rich clay collected from the mineral rich soil of the paddy fields created the warm and subtle gradiations in colour as illustrated on this tea vessel. Manipulation of firing and cooling techniques within the kilns created dynamic surface decoration that was both simple and restrained. The dark brown hues of this bottle, caused by an abundance of ash within the cooling kiln, were a form of kiln mutation known as 'Yohen' and was particularly admired. These visual effects, previously considered the detriment of hasty and cheap manufacture, became to be appreciated on Bizen wares due to their unique rustic appearance and elegant simplicity.

The wide base and monumental form of the Bizen bottles, as exemplified by this piece, was ideal for the storage of large volumes of liquid; while the delicate neck and rounded lip of the bottle was suitable for pouring. The muted colour, lack of glaze and decoration was ideal for a piece that would probably have been used in the inns and homes around Japan. Its warm colour and unadorned natural appearance was admired for its wabi or 'quiet taste'.
Collection
Accession number
FE.90-2011

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Record createdFebruary 1, 2011
Record URL
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