Bowl and Cover 1840

This covered bowl was made in Japan in the first half of the 19th century by Eiraku Hozen. We see images of cranes, auspicious symbols in Japanese culture, set against a backdrop of swirling clouds. The Eiraku family, of which Hozen was a key member, had a long history as official potters for the Kii branch of the Tokugawa clan. This bowl reflects the family's prominent position within the Japanese feudal system. By the late Edo period, when this bowl was made, the merchant class was gaining influence, and artists catered to this new audience. We see in this piece a blending of aristocratic symbolism with a refined aesthetic, a combination that would have appealed to wealthy merchants seeking to emulate the culture of the court. Understanding the social and economic transformations of 19th-century Japan helps us to understand the context in which artworks like this bowl were produced and consumed. By consulting historical records, economic data, and studies of artistic patronage, we can gain a fuller understanding of the bowl’s place in Japanese society.