![Kenzan: covered bowl with plum blossom design, underglaze brownand blue](https://turuta.jp/ceramics-story/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/08/ysf_10441_1-300x300.jpg)
Height 8.4cm, Bore 17.1cm x 17.4cm
MOA Art Museum
Korin and Kenzan grew up in the Gankin-ya district, one of the most prominent kimono merchants in Kyoto, and this may be reflected in their works, which are expressed by applying dyeing and weaving techniques such as katazuri (stencil printing) and katayaki (stencil placement).
In the case of Kienzan ware in particular, it seems that the tradition of gankin-ya has been applied to the composition of the design. On the base of the front of the lid and the sides of the body, a thick paper pattern in the shape of a plum flower was first placed in a thick mold using white mud. The white plum blossoms are roughly pierced into the glazed surface due to peeling and cracking caused by the rather thick white mud. The rims of both the body and lid are glazed with earthenware, and the word “Kenzan” is written in large letters on the outer bottom of the lid.
The lid of the box is inscribed on the front of the lid with the inscription, “Kensan ware of a bowl with a cover with a full fire”.