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Large Japanese Antique Tokoname Tsubo Stoneware Floor Jar

Offered by: Tishu

Description
A massive antique stoneware storage jar (known as tsubo in Japanese) circa 16-17th century (Muromachi to early Edo period). The heavily potted jar is of a typical "medieval" form with swelled shoulder, short neck and tapered body, made for vernacular use in the kitchen. The jar is unadorned except the groove lines around the short neck and along the lower half of the body. The surface is covered with a thin glaze with black markings and runoffs resulted from the iron slip interacted with ashes in the kiln fires.
Tokoname ware is one of the six ancient kilns in Japan dated to the 9th century and made in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan. Using local iron-rich clay, it is renowned for its unglazed thick-walled storage jars with a strong Mingei (folky) appeal. When the chado (tea ceremony) became highly appreciated in the 15th century during the Muromachi period, tea masters, equivalent to today's taste makers, discovered and promoted the unpretentious beauty of Tokoname wares. These jars were in high demand for the tea ceremony as water container or for tea leaf storage. The chado was eventually elevated to an art form and reached its zenith in the Edo period (1615-1868) when the wabi-sabi aesthetic was cherished. The randomly formed glaze patterns on Tokoname ware, as well as the other rustic wares such as Shigaraki and Tamba, became a "landscape" to meditate upon.
For a similar Tokoname Tsubo, see Object Number: 2011.2 in the collection of Worcester Art Museum and Object Number: 1990.87 in the collection of Asian Art Musuem in San Francisco.

More Information

Origin:	Japan
Period:	Pre 18th Century
Materials:	stoneware
Condition:	Fair. Fine antique condition with attractive surface patina including kiln imperfection, minor scratches and small losses. The base has a small loss that appears quite ancient and possible as made. All as shown.
Creation Date:	16-17th century
Styles / Movements:	Asian, Traditional
Patterns:	Asian/Oriental, Handmade
Incollect Reference #:	599913

Dimensions

H.	23 in;	Diam.	16 in;
H.	58.42 cm;	Diam.	40.64 cm;

Message from Seller:

Our collection ranges from Neolithic Art to 20th century collectible art and design. It spans 5000 thousand years of history and crosses many civilizations and cultures. Our aesthetic strongholds are Mid-century studio design, Japanese and Korean art, Asian Textile Art and Contemporary Aboriginal Art. The diversity is united behind our singular vision to seek for timeless beauty and driven purely by our passion

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