Minneapolis Institute of Art

Pipe with design of autumn flowers

Japan

Date

19th century

Medium

Bamboo, metal, and gold applique

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Guests to a tea gathering were invited to smoke tobacco in a pipe like this one. Smoking usually took place in the anteroom of the teahouse or in the garden between the major parts of the gathering. Occasionally, though, a host would invite his guests to smoke within the tearoom itself, particularly during the less formal service of usucha , or “thin tea.” The illegible signature of a metal artist appears on the underside of this pipe’s mouthpiece. He decorated these metal portions of the pipe with a delicate design of butterflies flitting among autumn flowers such as chrysanthemums and bush clover. Japan, Asia

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