Freshwater Jar (Mizusashi)

Celadon ware originated in China and was introduced to Japan around the tenth century. Members of the Japanese elite—aristocrats and high-ranking warriors—highly valued these pieces for their delicate bluish-green glaze, thin, refined bodies, and elegant forms. Among the most celebrated collectors were the Ashikaga shoguns (r. 1392–1573), who prized these costly imports known as karamono, or “Chinese things.” In the early seventeenth century, celadons began to be produced in Hizen Province. This region would become the birthplace of many renowned domestic porcelains, including the Arita, Hasami, Imari, and Nabeshima types. Potters from China and Korea played a crucial role in fostering this artistic and technical development. The jar on view, an early example of Japanese celadon, was used in tea gatherings.