Flower Pot 19th century

This striking flower pot was created by Eiraku Hozen in the early 19th century. It's characterized by a pristine white glaze and intricate relief carvings. The pot's surface is alive with depictions of phoenixes, blossoms, and stylized clouds. What stands out is how Hozen uses the circular form to organize these motifs. The phoenixes and floral patterns are distributed evenly across the body, creating a sense of balance and harmony. The motifs, rendered in a raised relief, are not just decorative; they engage with semiotic traditions of East Asian art, where the phoenix symbolizes renewal and the blossoms represent beauty and transience. The arrangement of these symbols suggests a meditation on themes of transformation and the cyclical nature of life. Note how the formal structure of the pot, with its symmetrical composition and refined material, creates a focal point for reflection on these deeper cultural and philosophical ideas.