New Exhibition
Crafted in Jingdezhen during the early 17th century, kosometsuke porcelain reflects a moment of artistic freedom during the Ming dynasty’s Tianqi reign (1620–1627). Made specifically for Japan’s tea masters and merchant-aesthetes, these wares blend Chinese craftsmanship with Japanese tea aesthetics—favouring asymmetry, insect-bitten rims (mushikui), and the wabi-sabi ideal of imperfection.
This exhibition presents a curated selection of kosometsuke arranged in the order of a formal tea gathering (chaji)—from mukozuke serving dishes to kogo incense containers. Each piece speaks to the art of toriawase, the tea host’s thoughtful coordination of objects to express seasonality, harmony, and personal taste.
Rare and evocative, these works embody a cross-cultural dialogue that continues to shape ceramic design in Japan today.