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Mukozuke (Sweetmeat dish)

Ogata Kenzan

Asian Art

This cup would have been used to hold a small portion of food in a tea ceremony or multicourse meal (kaiseki). Its decoration is typical of wares made by the ceramicist Kenzan. The flower pattern, inspired by camellias, was created using a stenciling process. Paper cutouts in the shapes of flowers were adhered to the sides of the cups, and then green enamel was painted over the whole surface. When the cup was fired, the paper burned away, leaving the surface below unpainted. The effect is somewhat watery and imprecise, recalling paintings made by Kenzan’s brother, Ogata Kōrin, and other artists in their circle, now known as the Rimpa school.
MEDIUM Stoneware with enamel background and paper-resist blossoms with enamel centers
  • Place Made: Japan
  • DATES 18th century
    PERIOD Edo Period
    DIMENSIONS 2 3/16 x 3 1/8 in. (5.6 x 7.9 cm)  (show scale)
    SIGNATURE "Kenzan" in iron undergalze on foot
    COLLECTIONS Asian Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 78.208
    CREDIT LINE Purchase gift of the J. Aron Charitable Foundation, Inc.
    EXHIBITIONS
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Ogata Kenzan (Japanese, 1663–1743). Mukozuke (Sweetmeat dish), 18th century. Stoneware with enamel background and paper-resist blossoms with enamel centers, 2 3/16 x 3 1/8 in. (5.6 x 7.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchase gift of the J. Aron Charitable Foundation, Inc., 78.208. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 78.208_view01_PS11.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 78.208_view01_PS11.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2021
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