Tea Bowls in Bloom February 26, 2007

Making a bowl of tea is the central act of the Japanese cultural and aesthetic practice known as Chanoyu. The host whisks together powdered pale green tea and hot water in the bowl from which the guest will drink. Painted images of seasonal flowers and auspicious plants link the tea bowl to the moment or meaning of the gathering. Such images first appeared on tea bowls made at Japanese kilns in the late sixteenth century. The decoration, inspired by vessels imported from China, Korea and Southeast Asia, used iron-brown or cobalt-blue pigment brushed under the glaze. During firing, the colors tended to melt into the glaze, producing an irregular and muted effect. In the mid-seventeenth century, potters introduced a newer Chinese technique, painting rainbow-colored translucent enamels over the glaze. Both modes of decoration have enjoyed enduring popularity. This exhibition of decorated tea bowls and water jars focuses on the older mode, which skillfully uses a limited palette to evoke the full spectrum of nature's hues.