Eiraku Hozen (Kyoto, 1785 - 1854, Shiga prefecture)
Tea-Linen Holder (Chakin-zutsu), 1795-1854
Glazed porcelain, 5.7 cm (2 1/4 in.)
From the first half of the 19th century, this small, Japanese cylindrical vessel held the linen used in serving tea. It is made of glazed porcelain with a white background and a nature scene depicted in blue. Thin blue lines encircle the top and near the bottom. Around the body of the Holder are leaves and flowers of various sizes and hues of blue, scattered at irregular intervals. On one side of the holder the decoration is relatively sparse, with predominantly white background, while on the other side the blue decoration dominates.
Chinese Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.