Artwork
Kiyoto - Generally Known as Yeiraku ware
Kiyoto - Generally Known as Yeiraku ware is a paint painting by the Impressionist artist Eiraku workshop. It dates from 1877 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This modestly sized ceramic vessel, dated to 1877, bears the mark Kiyoto and is generally classified as Yeiraku ware.
About this work
Overview
A small teapot sketch appears in the upper‑right corner, reflecting a synthesis of traditional and contemporary design elements.
This modestly sized ceramic vessel, dated to 1877, bears the mark Kiyoto and is generally classified as Yeiraku ware. Its decorative surface combines a central red disc with a blue‑and‑white floral motif, a series of six arched windows rendered in blue and white on a white field, and a red background accented with gold. A small teapot sketch appears in the upper‑right corner, reflecting a synthesis of traditional and contemporary design elements.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes symbolic motifs: the red circle may reference auspiciousness, while the blue‑and‑white flower and window patterns echo classic Japanese porcelain decoration. The teapot sketch, rendered simply, suggests an everyday object elevated to decorative status, hinting at the vessel’s possible function in tea culture.
Technique & Style
The piece employs overglaze enamel painting on a porcelain body, a hallmark of late‑nineteenth‑century Eiraku production. The palette—rich reds, deep blues, crisp whites, and gilded accents—demonstrates the workshop’s skill in combining vivid coloration with precise line work, merging traditional motifs with the more restrained aesthetic associated with the period’s emerging modern influences.
History & Provenance
Originally created in the Eiraku workshop, the vessel entered the collection of designer Christopher Dresser, a prominent figure in Anglo‑Japanese design exchange. It later passed to his family and was acquired in 1905 from Miss Mary Dresser, who had retained it among other works, before being accessioned by the museum.
Artist & collection
Artist
Eiraku workshop made bold, hand-painted porcelain in the late 1800s. Their Kiyoto – Generally Known as Yeiraku ware stands out with sharp lines and deep cobalt blues, typical of Kyoto’s export ceramics during the Meiji…
