Vase 18th century

This vase was created by Hozan, and is now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is made of stoneware with a subdued matte glaze. The material's inherent qualities of substance, texture, weight, color and form are all immediately apparent. It was made using techniques related to shaping the clay, firing, and glazing. Decoration was carved in low relief, before firing. This process has imbued the artwork with social significance as stoneware is a particularly robust and functional type of ceramic. Consider how the choice of stoneware, a readily available and practical material, ties into wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Think about the amount of work involved in the production process, from the extraction of raw materials to the skilled craftsmanship required for shaping, decorating, and firing. The material and making of this vase underlines the importance of thinking about how it challenges distinctions between fine art and craft.