Cleveland Museum of Art

Lid for Teapot with Begonias

Date

1897–1914

Medium

Porcelain with underglaze and overglaze colors

Culture

Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)

Department

Japanese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This teapot has complex surface treatment: a design of begonias in modulated underglaze blue for the leaves and stems as well as thick overglaze white with incised lines to define the petals, plus small areas of underglaze yellow at their low-relief centers. A band of underglaze blue gives further definition to the lid’s handle, and the area just above the base has a double band of blue above a row of snail-shell curls. Unlike many other teapots, which have marks on their bases, this one has “Seifu” incised into one of its sides in relatively large characters. It is the side that would face the host if the teapot were held by the handle with the right hand, which would be the expectation. This teapot with begonias combines underglaze blue with subtle use of yellow and white enamels.

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