Tea Caddy, named Tall (Seitaka)

Nonomura Ninsei

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art