Sake Pourer with Bellflowers

徳利

c. 1844–57

attributed to Seifū Yohei I 初代清風与平

(Japanese, 1801–1861)

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Culture

Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

Medium

one of a pair of sake flasks; stoneware with white slip, underglaze blue and gold repair (kintsugi) (Kyoto ware)

Credit Line

Gift of James and Christine Heusinger 2022.143.2

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold.

Description

This pair of sake pourers adorned with with bamboo and bellflowers is attributed to the founder of the Seifū Studio, Seifū Yohei I (1801–1861).

Yohei I, the lineage founder, was born to the Yasuda family in the city of Kanazawa, which faces the Sea of Japan. His home province of Kaga (in present-day Ishikawa Prefecture) produced its own ceramics, known as Kutani ware, but for his training as a potter, Yohei I chose Kyoto, which produced the more technically advanced porcelain ware. He moved to Kyoto around the 1820s and became apprenticed to Nin’ami Dohachi, a leading potter in the city. He later struck out on his own, and it is likely that his teacher gave him the name Seifu Yohei. His works include many exquisitely painted copies of Chinese porcelain, and he also produced stoneware with overglaze color enamels that emulated works in the style of Ogata Kenzan (1663–1743) at which his teacher excelled.