Sake Bottle (Tokkuri)

Japan

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 199

The small porcelain sake bottle appears to be made of wood covered in lacquer. Its dark brown glaze, mimicking a black lacquer surface, is embellished with a gold and silver “sprinkled picture” (maki-e) bird-and-flower composition. The design may be based on a traditional pattern showing a warbler on a plum tree, an auspicious symbol of the new year that refers to the “First Song of Spring” (Hatsune) chapter of The Tale of Genji.

Sake Bottle (Tokkuri), Porcelain with overglaze enamel, gold and silver hiramaki-e (Kyoto ware), Japan

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Sake Bottle (Tokkuri), Porcelain with overglaze enamel, gold and silver hiramaki-e (Kyoto ware), Japan
Sake Bottle (Tokkuri), Porcelain with overglaze enamel, gold and silver hiramaki-e (Kyoto ware), Japan

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