Japanese Ko-Seto Stoneware Ewer with Carved Chrysanthemum Design

On offer is a rare Ko-seto (old seto) stoneware ewer from Kamakura period (12-14th century) Japan. The exceptionally heavily potted ewer is made of stoneware. The main body was likely hand-coiled with individually built handle, sprout and wheel-made neck and mouth assembled. It takes the basic form from the contemporary Chinese ewer of Song Dynasty. The body was decorated with large carved chrysanthemums with petals surrounding the bottom of the neck and the base. It was washed in a yellow glaze (ko-seto was one the place first used glaze), the color was known as "dead leaf brown". The glaze now showcases an even effect of small crackles. The base was quite scorched and uneven from the residues during kiln firing. There is an old thin vein of kintsugi repair around the sprout, the end of which has a historical chip is uneven to the touch.
While the Ko-seto stoneware jar (heishi) are more commonly preserved from the period, the handled ewer that derived from the Chinese form is rather obscure. An intact Sue stoneware ewer of a similar form from Heian Period (10-11th century) was excavated at Maebashi in Gumma Prefecture in 1961 (see last picture).
For a Ko-seto jar with carved design and similar glaze, see item 1991.6 in the collection of Asian Art Musuem in San Francisco. Item AFI.14.2016 in the collection of Birmingham Musuem of Art