Large Jar with Peonies, Orchids, and Chrysanthemums

From the museum

Spring peonies, summer orchids, and autumn chrysanthemums bloom at once amid garden rocks. These underglaze blue motifs were inspired by similar designs on Chinese ceramics made for export to Europe. In the early 1600s, Korean potters in Japan discovered kaolin, the clay essential for porcelain production. At the same time, political turmoil in China following the collapse of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) disrupted Chinese exports. Together, these circumstances created an opportunity for Japan to supply ceramics to the European market. Careful study of Chinese prototypes shaped the work of Japanese ceramists for both domestic and overseas audiences. This design shows the changing of the seasons: one side depicts a peony blossom in the spring, and the other side continues with chrysanthemums and an orchid in the autumn.