Set of Five Camellia-Shaped Side Dishes (Mukōzuke) with Camellia Patterns

These vividly colored small cups (mukōzuke) were created to enhance the beauty of the food served in them. Each vessel was fully coated in white slip and then in transparent glaze before the first firing. Next, the artisan applied stencil papers in the shape of camellia flowers to the interior and exterior surfaces, keeping the blossoms white while brushing on the green enamel—a technique derived from stencil dyeing in textile arts. Then the cups were fired again.

Ogata Kenzan, the younger brother of Kōrin, studied the pottery techniques of Nonomura Ninsei (active ca. 1646–94) before establishing the Narutaki kiln in northwest Kyoto. His numerous sets of tableware were likely created in a workshop setting, with the assistance of multiple craftsmen. Despite this collaborative production, Kenzan’s own exceptional talent as a designer is clearly evident in these works.