Water Container with Shell and Seaweed

1914–46

Seifū Yohei IV 四代清風与平

(Japanese, 1872–1951)

Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912) or Taishō period (1912–26)

Porcelain with underglaze blue, blue glaze and molded design

Gift of James and Christine Heusinger 2022.212.a

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Did You Know?

A mizusashi, water container, is an essential utensil for a tea ceremony.

Description

Yohei IV chose an aquatic theme for this mizusashi. He applied clay to the surface and molded the shape of a large conch on one side and, on the other, a clam and a scallop. The finer details he incised into the surface of his low-relief shapes. He then painted seaweed as though it were coming out from behind the sea creatures, and he further set off the animals using a masking technique with a gradated blue surround. Finally, he applied a translucent blue glaze, identified on the box as mizusai, over the entire body of the vessel. The resulting effect is that one imagines having descended through the water to the ocean floor.