Vase with Plum Blossoms

1914–46

Seifū Yohei IV 四代清風与平

(Japanese, 1872–1951)

Culture

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

Medium

Porcelain with blue glaze and molded and carved design

Measurements

32.9 x 23.1 cm (12 15/16 x 9 1/8 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of James and Christine Heusinger 2022.211

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

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.

Description

The dense, allover pattern of flowering plum, or prunus, branches on this vase resembles Japanese textile patterns. The trunks and forward-facing blossoms anchor the design, which is also filled with thinner branches and flowers ranging from round bud to full bloom, with the occasional flower facing upward or downward. As they might in a textile design, the trunks run in alternate directions up and down the surface. At the foot is a classic running design of spirals and at the neck, a collar of clouds. Although the vase has unfortunately lost its box, the glaze color is probably “water color” (mizusai). The visual effect is like that of a silk brocade, in which the pattern takes a supporting role to the color.