Cleveland Museum of Art

Vase with Plum Blossoms

Seifū Yohei IV

Date

1914–46

Medium

Glazed porcelain with molded and carved design

Culture

Japan, Taishō period (1912–26) or Shōwa period (1926–89)

Department

Japanese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Although inspired by representations of flowering plum, or prunus, in Chinese ceramics, the dense allover design of branches on this vase also resembles Japanese textile patterns. As they might on a kimono, the trunks run in alternate directions up and down the surface. At the foot, or bottom of the vase, is a classic band of spirals, and at the neck, or narrowed portion near the opening, is a collar of clouds. Yohei IV’s allover design of budding and flowering plum blossoms, strongly associated with spring and with China, is combined with his father’s “water color” glaze on this vase.

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