Collection
Teabowl with Arhat, Crane, and Cloud Designs
| Teabowl with Arhat, Crane, and Cloud Designs |
| Kotﾅ ware, painting by Kﾅ行ai; height 7.5 cm, mouth diameter 10.6 cm; Edo period, 19th century; Gift of the Ii Family |
This teabowl decorated in red and gold was painted by Kﾅ行ai, a former monk from Hida Takayama (in present-day Gifu Prefecture) who returned to secular life to study painting in Kyoto. He entered the employ of the Hikone domain-run kiln at the time of twelfth daimyo Naoaki. Kﾅ行ai is known for refined brushwork befitting a literati artist and designs that densely cover the surface of a vessel. The inside of the bowl is decorated with portrayals of Buddhist arhats, and the outside with clouds, cranes, and a long Chinese poem.
