Early Modern Japanese Ceramics

A hands-on graduate seminar to investigate the technical and stylistic revolution that occurred in Japanese ceramics around 1600. Topics to explore will include: the legacy of medieval ceramics, especially the “six ancient kilns” (rokkoyō); the role of the arts of tea (chanoyu) as a catalyst for technical innovation and stylistic invention; intraregional commerce in Japan and objects imported from China, Korea, and Southeast Asia; the role of modern archaeology; and the question of transmateriality, or whether and how the related arts of painting, lacquer, and textiles affected the conception and design of clay objects. We will conduct regular visits to local public and private collections throughout the semester to examine objects firsthand. Reading knowledge of Japanese strongly recommended.