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Tea bowl with design of chrysanthemums
early 19th century

Nin'ami Dohachi , (Japanese, 1783-1855)
Edo period

Stoneware with white slip and iron pigment under clear glaze, gold leaf over glaze
H: 8.8 W: 12.8 D: 12.8 cm
Kyoto, Japan

Gift of Charles Lang Freer F1896.55

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Thick white-clay solution was used to model the relief decoration of chrysanthemum blossoms, a floral motif closely associated with autumn through winter. Perhaps this bowl was made for a New Year’s chanoyu gathering. Often, bowls newly made for chanoyu events to celebrate the New Year were decorated with fragile gold leaf, which wore off in the course of a single use.