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

Flask

500-600 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Flask of reduced stoneware, with hooked handles, and with plaited bamboo surround.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Stoneware
Brief description
Flask, reduced stoneware with bamboo surround, owner's mark in red lacquer on base; Japan, Sue ware, Kofun period, 500-600
Physical description
Flask of reduced stoneware, with hooked handles, and with plaited bamboo surround.
Dimensions
  • Height: 22.2cm
  • Diameter: 20cm
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
Unidentified owner's mark in red lacquer on base
Gallery label
FLASK Reduced stoneware with bamboo surround Owner's mark in red lacquer on base Sue ware JAPANESE; c.500-600 161-1877 This flask was converted into a hanging flower vase by a tea ceremony practitioner sometime after the 16th century.(As at 2005)
Object history
Purchased from the Japanese Commissioners for the Philadelphia Exposition of 1876, accessioned in 1877. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Historical context
This flask was made as a burial accessory, but was converted into a hanging flower vase by a tea ceremony practitioner sometime after the 16th century.
Association
Bibliographic reference
Augustus Wollaston Franks and M. Shioda, Japanese Pottery. [London]: Chapman & Hall Ltd., 1880. South Kensington Museum Art Handbooks; 18. Catalogue number 2; illustrated on p. 25
Collection
Accession number
161-1877

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest