Handled tray with cherry blossoms and maples 0-0

Nin'ami Dōhachi, or Takahashi Dōhachi II, created this handled tray with cherry blossoms and maples sometime in the early 19th century. The piece is an example of Japanese pottery from the Edo period when artists like Dōhachi navigated strict social hierarchies and sumptuary laws through their art. This tray is not just a functional object; it’s a narrative space. Cherry blossoms and maples weren’t just decorative. They evoked a sense of longing for nature, a kind of quiet rebellion against the structured life imposed by the shogunate. Dōhachi, as a potter, was part artisan, part cultural commentator. The choice of a light blue glaze, the delicate rendering of flora – they speak to a refined aesthetic, but also to an emotional landscape shaped by the era's constraints and artistic possibilities. The tray embodies a silent dialogue between tradition, innovation, and the personal experiences of its creator.