Ashmolean Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Japan has an ancient ceramic tradition, which owes much to China and Korea. By the 1600s, there was an increased demand for everyday ceramics from all levels of society. Existing production centres expanded and new potteries were established around Japan.

There were several important technical advances around this time, including the production of porcelain and the application of colourful enamel decoration. Meanwhile, the growing popularity of the tea ceremony among merchants and samurai stimulated the production of specially-designed tea wares. These were prized for their irregular shapes and muted colours.

Arita

Arita, on the southern island of Kyushu, was Japan’s first centre for the manufacture of porcelain, from around 1600. There were many kilns in the town, producing underglaze blue and enamelled porcelain for domestic use and for export.

Dish with a night landscape (EA2002.57)   Dish with egrets (EA2003.2)   Dish with mandarin ducks amid waves (EA2003.3)

Dish with floral decoration in reserve (EA1986.7)   Dish with three egrets (EA1991.55)   Shell-shaped dish with poppy (EA1989.168)

Dish with leaves and waves (EA1995.2)   Dish in the form of an egret (EA1997.211)

Nabeshima

The Nabeshima kilns, near Arita, were run by the local samurai rulers, the Nabeshima daimyō. They produced high-quality, boldly-decorated porcelain exclusively for the Nabeshima lords’ own use and for presentation to other dignitaries.

Sake cup with abstract design (EA1985.51)   Dish with camellia flowers by a fence (EA1985.46)   Dish with flowering plants (EA1985.50)

Seto

The Seto area had flourished as a producer of glazed stonewares from the 1200s. By the early 1800s the Seto kilns began making underglaze blue porcelain and soon overtook Arita as Japan’s main producer of porcelain for everyday use.

Writing box with mountain landscape (EA1976.7)

Kyoto

Kyoto was the former capital of Japan. During the Edo period (1600–1868) it was still the cultural centre of Japan and the city of the Imperial Court. In the early 1600s two new types of earthenware were developed there: low-fired Raku wares for the tea ceremony and colourful overglaze-enamel earthenwares known as ‘Kyoyaki’ (Kyoto ware). From the early 1800s Kyoto also became the main producer of utensils for the Chinese-style tea ceremony.

Hexagonal box with cherry blossoms (EA1975.24)   Sake bottle with leaves (EA1974.18)   Teapot used for the Chinese tea ceremony (EA1968.45)

Hirado

The Hirado kilns, near Arita, produced fine underglaze blue decorated porcelain from the mid-1700s, initially for the exclusive use of the local samurai rulers, then later for commercial distribution.

Incense burner, or kōro, in the form of an ox (EA2000.184)   Water jar surmounted by a shishi, or lion dog (EA1982.9)