Freshwater jar

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

During the seventeenth century, as imperial patronage waned, potters at the Chinese kilns of Jingdezhen sought other markets. One of these was Japan, where the popularity of the tea ceremony contributed to growing demand for Chinese ceramics. This porcelain jar, made to hold water during the tea ceremony, was fashioned in the form of a humble wooden bucket, a combination of high and low that appealed to Japanese patrons. The uneven thickness of the glaze and occasional exposure of the clay beneath would have been considered defects in China, but they were prized in Japan for capturing a sense of authenticity.

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