Covered Box with a design of plum blossoms

Data

Explanation

A covered box of a generous shape decorated with a design of overlapping plum blossoms. The white blossoms on the exterior surfaces of the body and lid were painted by applying a thick coat of white slip through a stencil with blossom-shaped holes cut out. The other blossoms were then added in cobalt blue and iron brown pigments, and the entire box covered with a thick coat of transparent glaze. The design on the interior surfaces of the body and cover was created by placing blossom-shaped stencils on a ground of white slip and brushing over them with a cobalt pigment, so that the background was colored, making the white flowers left in reserve look as if floating in air. The box is inscribed on the base with a mark reading "Kenzan".