Bowl 19th century

Curator: Let's examine this "Bowl," crafted in the 19th century by Seifu Yohei. It resides here at the Met. Editor: My immediate impression is one of quietude. It's a modest stoneware bowl, but with intricate decoration. Curator: Absolutely. Yohei was a master craftsman during the Meiji period, and this bowl reflects the aesthetic sensibilities valued at that time. Consider that it could be for decorative use, but what type of class/context is this material representing? Editor: The choice of earthenware, even adorned as it is, suggests accessibility. Though undoubtedly fine work, stoneware pieces catered to a wider market than porcelain. One can't overlook how Meiji era craft was produced amidst profound social change. What looks like art hides social messaging. Curator: Indeed. The Meiji Restoration ushered in a period where traditional crafts were both celebrated and commodified. There's a fascinating tension here, wouldn't you agree, between artistic expression and market forces shaping its production. It seems this ceramic piece may represent how they were shifting art during that period of change. Editor: I'm most struck by how it blends different decorative techniques on a single piece. Carved figures mingle with meticulously patterned interiors and rim. I wonder what other types of artwork this artist was attempting to pursue, in what other avenues and to what extent the change came with. Curator: I agree; such pieces speak volumes about how cultural identities and socio-political structures played into traditional visual imagery. Editor: Overall, thinking about production alongside decoration offers an insight into its function and circulation within the rapidly transforming Meiji economy. Curator: I appreciate you for your analysis. Thank you for joining.