Set of Cylidrical Mukozuke Dishes

Set of 5 dishes
Momoyama to Edo periods, 17th century
Karatsu ware, E-garatsu type, Uchidasaraya kiln
Height, 9.0cm; mouth diameter, 6.9cm

In addition to the Mino kilns, the Karatsu kilns were known to produce a major amount of Japan's graceful tea ceramics. In particular, Karatsu ware was famous for its Okugorai tea bowls based on Korai tea bowls from Korea, and there are a number of superb examples of tea bowls and mukozuke dishes produced in the E-garatsu, or "decorated Karatsu" style. These mukozuke dishes are an example of this splendid type, and they are decorated with carefully applied underglaze iron brushwork in a plant motif that resembles willows and a linear pattern that is referred to as the tokusa, or horsetail, motif.
The vessels are cylindrical in shape with a turned-back lip, and the step put into the bottom of the sides of these cylinders gives an overall softness and interest to the basic shape. The base of each dish has been carved into a low foot. With the exception of the foot, glaze has been applied overall, and reduction firing has given each vessel a grayish blue color. Surmising from the appearance of the foot, these dishes can be considered to have been produced at the Uchida saraya kiln known for producing a large number of fine mukozuke dishes. TA