Teabowl 1820 - 1840

This teabowl was made by Yosobei II, and it is now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Notice the delicate blossoms and the bird in flight that adorn its surface. Flowers and birds, ubiquitous symbols, transcend mere decoration. In Chinese and subsequently Japanese art, the bird, often a messenger of the gods, embodies freedom, and the soul’s journey. The blossoms, in their ephemeral beauty, speak of renewal, and the transient nature of life. Think back to ancient Greece, where similar motifs appeared on pottery, or consider the Renaissance, where floral patterns, laden with symbolic meaning, flourished in tapestries and paintings. This visual language connects us across time, revealing shared human experiences. The enduring appeal of these images touches something primal in us. A yearning for beauty, a contemplation of life’s fleeting moments, and a connection to nature, are all held within this bowl. These symbols are never truly still.