Four-sided Oribe Square Muōzuke with Gourd Design

  • Mino kiln, Gifu pref.
  • Momoyama to Edo period
  • 17th century
  • Mino ware
  • H-10 D-23 W-19.3
Catalogue Entry

Momoyama to Edo periods, 17th century
Oribe ware
Height, 10.0cm; mouth diameter, 19.3-22.5cm

This square dish has sharply pulled corners to form an almost quatrefoil form, and its interior has been layered into 2 steps, with the base of the interior in a square flat form with slightly smoothed corners. Needless to say this vessel was mold-formed, and the use of molds during this period meant that a wide variety of vessels could be made. However, the use of molds during this period was not with the aim of mass-production, but rather was part of the potters' desire to create unusual forms in their vessel shapes.
Here green glaze has been applied to opposite corners of the vessel, and a gourd design has been painted in iron underglaze on the white central ground. The exterior of the dish was then decorated with thick karakusa vining plant motifs in underglaze iron. Oribe ware is known for its soft firing and vivid green, and the firing of this dish reflects the ideal results sought in these aesthetics. The green is particularly dense and vivid. Distinctive Mino-ware-style feet have been applied to the 4 corners of the dish's base, and glaze has been applied to the base overall. TA