Octagonal Bowl with Auspicious Chinese Themes and Sages
Aoki Mokubei Japanese
The Kyoto potter and painter Aoki Mokubei created tea wares that engaged with the Chinese practice of revisiting things of the past, such as legends of sages and deities of good fortune. This bowl can be seen as an emulation of another culture, with the auspicious Chinese iconographies, including dragons, cranes, turtles, playful Chinese boys (karako), and objects referencing learning and felicitous treasures. Related themes were central to Edo-period literati culture.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.