Saucer with Floral Design and Basketry Exterior 1840 - 1869

This is a small saucer made by Zōshuntei Sanpo in Japan in the late 19th century. It’s made primarily of porcelain, with a painted floral design, and a basketry exterior. The making of porcelain is a laborious process, requiring the careful combination of materials, precise firing in a kiln, and skilled decoration. In this case, a fine weave of basketry has been applied to the exterior, adding a tactile dimension to the smooth ceramic form. The floral design on the interior has been carefully hand-painted, transforming a functional object into a miniature work of art. Sanpo was working at a time when Japanese crafts were highly prized internationally. The detailed labor that went into objects like this one was greatly admired, and fed a growing global market for Japanese design. Ultimately, the saucer asks us to consider the relationship between craft, commerce, and artistry. It challenges the idea of art as something separate from everyday life, instead revealing the potential for beauty and skill to be found even in the most humble of objects.