Teapot with Pines

1893–1914

Seifū Yohei III 三代清風与平

(Japanese, 1851–1914)

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Culture

Japan

Medium

Porcelain with underglaze blue

Measurements

height with lid: 8 cm (3 1/8 in.); width with handle: 10.5 cm (4 1/8 in.); Diameter: 8 cm (3 1/8 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of James and Christine Heusinger 2022.162

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

This teapot with images of pines are among Seifū Yohei III’s designs painted in blue.

Description

Side-handled teapots known as kyūsu and hot water coolers, or yuzamashi, are essential components of sencha tea sets. The teapot is, of course, meant for steeping and serving the tea. Yuzamashi are used to cool boiled water to the ideal temperature for the type of tea to be brewed.

This teapot has a pine in underglaze blue on each side. The tip of one of these pines reaches onto the tiny lid, and as with the trees on the Water Cooler with Pines, CMA 2022.163, the trunks are curvy ribbons with little definition. Considering the execution of the two vessels' designs, one might imagine the pot and cooler to have been part of the same set.