Cleveland Museum of Art

Kettle with Crane Design

Date

1392–1573

Medium

iron

Culture

Japan, Muromachi period (1392–1573)

Department

Japanese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Water supplied from a jar such as the fine Shino-ware vessel ( CMA 1972.9.a-b ) was transferred to an iron kettle for boiling as part of the tea ceremony. Former CMA director Sherman Lee described the jagged, broken skirt of this kettle as "attractively damaged," complementing the unobtrusive wispy designs on its rough metal surface. The character of this kettle—worn, coarse, the "perfection" of symmetry destroyed—was cherished by tea masters for its powerful humility.

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