Vase 19th century

This vase was made in Japan by Takemoto in the late 19th century, during a time of immense cultural and social change. The Meiji Restoration, starting in 1868, marked a period when Japan opened its doors to Western influences. Consider how this era of transformation might have affected an artist like Takemoto. Was he drawn to integrate new techniques or styles into his work, or did he lean into traditional Japanese aesthetics as a form of cultural preservation? The vase, with its speckled glaze and understated form, perhaps represents a blend of both worlds. The materiality of ceramics itself is deeply connected to the earth, and the vessel form has been used across cultures for centuries. What does it mean to create a vessel, a container, in a time of rapid change? What histories, what emotions, are we meant to pour into it? This vase invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between tradition and innovation, and the enduring power of art to hold both personal and collective memories.