Japan, Edo period (1615–1868) / late 1600s
Large Jar with Peonies, Orchids, and Chrysanthemums
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Large Jar with Peonies, Orchids, and Chrysanthemums as ceramic (Japan, Edo period (1615–1868) · late 1600s).
This design shows the changing of the seasons: one side depicts a peony blossom in the spring, and the other side continues with chrysanthemums and an orchid in the autumn.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this ceramic as Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (Imari ware).
The museum's collection notes: Spring peonies, summer orchids, and autumn chrysanthemums bloom at the same time amid garden rocks. These underglaze blue motifs were inspired by similar designs on Chinese ceramics made for export to Europe. In the early 1600s, Korean potters in Japan discovered kaolin, the clay essential for porcelain production. At the same time, political turmoil in China following the collapse of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) disrupted Chinese exports. Together, these circumstances created an opportunity for Japan to supply ceramics to the European market. Careful study of Chinese prototypes shaped the work of Japanese ceramists for both domestic and over
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The Cleveland Museum of ArtLarge Jar with Peonies, Orchids, and ChrysanthemumsOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.