Vase and Lid thumbnail 1
Not on display

This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Vase and Lid

1875-1880 (made)
Artist/Maker
Miyagawa Kozan (maker)
Place of origin
Yokohama (made)

Miyagawa Kozan was a potter from Kyoto who set up a workshop in the suburbs of Yokohama in 1871 to produce ceramics for export to Europe and North America. With its high relief modelling and use of bright colours and gilding, this vase is a classic example of a Japanese export product made to appeal to high Victorian taste.

Object details

Category
Ceramics
Object type
Vase and lid
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Lid
  • Vase
Materials and techniques
Stoneware
Brief description
Vase (with wooden lid), glazed stoneware with applied decoration of an eagle and bears in high relief, painted in enamels and gilded; made by Miyagawa Kôzan workshop, Japan (Yokohama), Meiji period, 1875-1880
Dimensions
  • Height: 401mm
  • Width: 262mm
  • Depth: 275mm
  • Diameter at the base diameter: 125mm
Gallery label
(04/11/2015)
Vase with eagle and bears
1875–80

Miyagawa Kōzan, a potter from Kyoto, set up a workshop in the suburbs of Yokohama to produce ceramics for the European and North American markets. With its extravagant decoration, this vase is a classic example of a Japanese export product made to appeal to Victorian taste.

Marked ‘Kōzan’ for the Miyagawa Kōzan workshop
Yokohama
Glazed stoneware, painted in overglaze enamels and gold
Matthiessen Gift
Museum no. 207-1881
Credit line
Given by W. E. Matthiessen
Object history
Given by W. E. Matthiessen, accessioned in 1881. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Summary
Miyagawa Kozan was a potter from Kyoto who set up a workshop in the suburbs of Yokohama in 1871 to produce ceramics for export to Europe and North America. With its high relief modelling and use of bright colours and gilding, this vase is a classic example of a Japanese export product made to appeal to high Victorian taste.
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
207&LID-1881

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Record createdMay 5, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O229720/vase-and-lid-miyagawa-kozan/
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