From Kaijo Kiln, Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
14th century
Height 6.8cm, Lid diameter 7.1cm
There is a 5.5cm diameter projection on the back of the lid, which is thought to be the lid of a jointed vessel. On the upper surface of the lid, a seated figure is shown as a knob instead of a knob. The figure is sitting cross-legged with its left hand down and its right hand on its head in a contemplative pose, but it has a playful expression on its face, which is quite endearing. The ash glaze has fallen in some places, but the cobalt color of the kiln has changed.
There are more than a dozen known examples of Kosedo ware featuring monkeys, but all of them are limited to small vessels such as water droplet bowls, incense burners, and the like, and most are used for strings, decorations, water droplet handles, and the like, such as this vessel. The late Takashi Wakasugi’s excellent discussion of these monkey figures explains their relationship to water through folkloric examples.
