Collection record · Everyday wonders
Hand-held Teapot
The collection record classifies this work as ceramic. It is dated 1893–1914. Recorded culture or place: Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912).
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Hand-held Teapot
- Date
- 1893–1914
- Culture / origin
- Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)
- Materials and technique
- Porcelain with molded and carved design and cream glaze
- Dimensions
- height with lid: 6 cm (2 3/8 in.); width with spout: 9.5 cm (3 3/4 in.); Diameter: 8.2 cm (3 1/4 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Seifū Yohei III (Japanese, 1851–1914)
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 2022.174
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
This teapot is of a variety used by advanced sencha practitioners. Called a hōhin, the pot is designed to be held directly by the fingers, with the body touching the upper part of the palm. This shape allows the host to manipulate the pot with a single hand and demonstrate dexterity. Direct contact between the ceramic body and the hand allows the host to closely gauge the temperature of the water within. There are differing grades of sencha, and for the finest one, gyokuro, the water temperature must be carefully regulated to achieve the proper flavor. This vessel is therefore efficacious for preparing this high-quality tea. The hōhin is also extremely portable, so it is well suited for impromptu gatherings.
According to its box, this teapot is an example of taihakuji. “Great-white porcelain” was an important early invention Yohei III devised in 1972. It involved the combination of a distinctive translucent, creamy glaze over an ivory-colored clay body.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Gift of James and Christine Heusinger · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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