chawan 茶碗 (tea bowl) with mon 紋 (crest)

chawan 茶碗 (tea bowl) with mon 紋 (crest) , circa 1775, Edo period (1600–1868)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: porcelain; underglaze

Dimensions:
Object Height/Diameter (Height x Diameter): 6.4 x 11.1 cm
Object Height/Diameter (Height x Diameter): 2 1/2 x 4 3/8 in

Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial

Accession number: 1928.1610

Not on display

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Label texts

Archive Label 2003:
Three mon, or family crests, on this tea bowl identify it as having been made for a particular family. By the date this tea bowl was made, the use of mon had spread from high-ranking courtiers to samurai and other classes. For more information on the Japanese use of mon, see the label for the jingasa (ceremonial military hat) in a case in the last gallery of this exhibition. The hollyhock (aoi) design featured in the mon on this tea bowl was one of many variations on the abstract form representing hollyhocks.