Cup with Bird-and-Flower Design and Basketry Exterior 1840 - 1869

Curator: This is an intriguing piece. We have here a cup and saucer, dating roughly from 1840 to 1869, created by Zōshuntei Sanpō. The materials are earthenware with ceramic and a woven basketry exterior. What catches your eye first about this object? Editor: Immediately, it’s the combination of refinement and rustic texture. That contrast between the delicate painting inside the cup and the earthy, basket-like exterior—it’s quite striking. The birds and flowers almost feel like a secret world hidden within something very practical. Curator: I agree, and it showcases a remarkable intersection of skills. The artist is working with the material qualities of earthenware and basketry, challenging our notions of "high" and "low" art. I imagine the basket weave, possibly bamboo, offered insulation. And how do you read those interior images? Editor: The birds and flowers, common motifs in East Asian art, suggest themes of beauty and fleeting moments. Birds often represent freedom and good fortune, while flowers, depending on the variety, can signify prosperity, love, or longevity. There's a serene harmony implied, like a little Zen garden for your tea. Curator: It's tempting to read the cup as merely decorative, but consider its intended function. Tea ceremonies, particularly in Japan, are deeply ritualized. This object becomes part of a social performance, connected to traditions of hospitality, labor, and possibly trade through its consumption. Editor: That interwoven imagery could certainly symbolize relationships and the interconnectedness of things. Also, the very act of lifting and drinking from this cup becomes a mini-performance of respect—respect for nature, for the craft, and for the shared moment. Curator: Exactly. And consider the process itself, from the sourcing of the materials to the various stages of production. A piece like this is the product of multiple skilled laborers, which invites thoughts about production of beauty, even amidst daily life. Editor: Thinking about daily life really does alter the perspective. So many cups just hold liquid, but this one…it tells stories. Curator: Yes, and it reminds us that art isn’t confined to gallery walls. This is a beautiful collision of symbol and labor. Editor: I’ll never look at a teacup the same way again.