ticketsMember | Make a donation

Tea Caddy (Natsume)

second half 19th century
Not on view
The surface of the unusual ceramic tea caddy shows fish and crabs behind a fishing net. The net pattern may have been inspired by lacquer tea caddies. Both the technique and the playful design bear resemblances to compositions by Makuzu Kōzan, one of the master potters of the period. Fish, crabs, and lobsters often appear on Moore’s silverwares. Examples include a creamer and sugar bowl designed in 1876 and a rectangular vase made in 1877—both featuring a scene with fish and seaweed—and a chocolate pot from 1879 decorated with a lobster.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Tea Caddy (Natsume)
  • Period: Meiji period (1868–1912)
  • Date: second half 19th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Stoneware with polychrome overglaze enamels and gold
  • Dimensions: H. 3 in. (7.6 cm); Diam. 3 in. (7.6 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics
  • Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
  • Object Number: 91.1.264a, b
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Vase, Inoue Ryōsai III Japanese, Porcelain covered with a celadon glaze, the top covered with colored glazes, Japan
Vase
Inoue Ryōsai III
1890
Bowl, Nin'ami Dōhachi (Takahashi Dōhachi II) Japanese, Clay partly covered with glaze; reserves forming patterns having slip dots in the center, covered with a transparent glaze (Kyoto ware), Japan
Bowl
Nin'ami Dōhachi (Takahashi Dōhachi II)
19th century
Cup with narrative scene from the “Legend of the White Snake”, Porcelain painted in overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware), China
Cup with narrative scene from the “Legend of the White Snake”
China
first half 19th century
Bowl with imaginary composite flowers , Porcelain painted with overglaze enamels (Jingdezhen ware), China

Bowl with imaginary composite flowers

China
Bowl with floral medallions, Porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze enamels (Jingdezhen ware), China
Bowl with floral medallions
China
early 19th century

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.