Water Pot for Tea Ceremony (Mizusashi)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Made in the shape of a wooden bucket, this pot, used to bring water into the tea room, reflects the sophistication of taste and ceramic technique that developed in the practice of tea in the Edo period. The shape, though providing an appreciated element of novelty, demanded finesse on the part of its user, who would draw water from it with a long-handled wooden ladle. Its manufacture required considerable skill in molding and firing. The splashed glaze enhances the rustic effect and reflects the potter's control of the effects of ash falling on the vessel in a wood-fired kiln.

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