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Tea Caddy, named Tall (Seitaka)

second half of the 17th century
Not on view
This small, thin tea caddy was designed to hold thick matcha, a powdered green tea used in the tea ceremony. The work of Nonomura Ninsei marks a turning point in the history of Kyoto ware. In 1647, Ninsei built a kiln near the Ninnaji Temple in Omuro, in northwest Kyoto. He excelled in creating tea wares, and greatly benefited from the support of the influential tea master Kanamori Sōwa (1584–1658). Known for its technical refinement, Ninsei’s colorful, overglaze-decorated Omuro ware immediately became a sought-after commodity. The artist merged earlier traditions of local ceramic production with high-fired glazing techniques of tea wares produced in Seto (Owari Province) and with his training in Tanba pottery.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 野々村仁清作　銘「背高」長茶入
  • Title: Tea Caddy, named Tall (Seitaka)
  • Artist: Nonomura Ninsei (Japanese, active ca. 1646–94)
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: second half of the 17th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Stoneware with iron glaze (Kyoto ware)
  • Dimensions: H. (with lid) 6 in. (15.2 cm); Diam. 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm); Diam. of rim 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm); Diam. of base 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics
  • Credit Line: The Howard Mansfield Collection, Gift of Howard Mansfield, 1936
  • Object Number: 36.120.559a–f
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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Jar, Nonomura Ninsei Japanese, Clay covered with a transparent crackled glaze; decorated colored enamels and gold (Kyoto ware, Takamatsu type), Japan
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Covered Incense Box, Nonomura Ninsei Japanese, Paste covered with a transparent crackled glaze and decorated with colored enamels and gold (Kyoto ware, Satsuma type), Japan
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Tea jar, Nonomura Ninsei Japanese, Clay; black glaze with two bands of crackled white glaze; (Awata ware), Japan
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Teabowl, Nonomura Ninsei Japanese, Clay covered with a warm Seto glaze and a border of white enamel (Awata ware), Japan
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