Bowl
The Rookwood Pottery, founded by Maria Longworth Nichols in 1880, became one of the most significant and longest surviving of all American art potteries, remaining in operation until well after World War II. During Rookwood’s early years, Nichols made significant contributions to work in the barbotine manner, a technique of using pigmented slip applied in a painterly fashion under a clear glaze. In 1887 Kataro Shirayamadani, a Japanese porcelain painter, was hired to broaden the pottery’s offerings of work in the Japanesque style. While a talented artist, Shirayamadani had no previous experience in underglaze painting, but quickly became one of the pottery’s most accomplished decorators in this technique.
Shirayamadani’s asymmetrical design of finely painted blossoming branches encircles the bowl. Both the subject matter and composition speak to the popularity of Japanese-inspired decoration at Rookwood Pottery.
Shirayamadani’s asymmetrical design of finely painted blossoming branches encircles the bowl. Both the subject matter and composition speak to the popularity of Japanese-inspired decoration at Rookwood Pottery.
Artwork Details
- Title: Bowl
- Decorator: Kataro Shirayamadani (American (born Japan), Tokyo 1865–1948 Cleveland, Ohio)
- Manufacturer: Manufactured by Rookwood Pottery Company (American, Cincinnati, Ohio 1880–1967)
- Date: 1890
- Geography: Made in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Earthenware
- Dimensions: H. 5 9/16 in. (14.1 cm); Diam. 11 in. (27.9 cm)
- Credit Line: Purchase, The Edgar J. Kaufmann Foundation Gift, 1969
- Object Number: 69.37.3
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Kataro Shirayamadani
Rookwood Pottery Company
1904
Kataro Shirayamadani
Rookwood Pottery Company
1901
Kataro Shirayamadani
Rookwood Pottery Company
1904
Albert R. Valentien
Rookwood Pottery Company
1882
M. Louise McLaughlin
1881
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.