Decorative Arts | 16th–19th century
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Long-Sleeved Kimono (Furisode) with a Stormy Seascape
Edo period, 19th centuryJapanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 18
September 8, 2026 (Tue) - November 29, 2026 (Sun)From the late 16th century, changes in society helped artisans to develop the decorative arts. In the Azuchi–Momoyama period (1573–1603), samurai warlords united Japan after more than a century of fighting. The following Edo period (1603–1868) saw economic growth under a new samurai government, with merchants and other people gaining the wealth to buy art.
Potters succeeded in making Japan's first porcelain in the early 17th century. Methods for decorating porcelain and other ceramics then became more diverse, as shown by works with gold, silver, and color enamels. Meanwhile, textiles saw rapid technical advances. The loom was improved to make complex weaves possible, while dyeing became as detailed and expressive as painting.
Items like furniture and dining sets were coated with lacquer and decorated with metal powders, most often gold. Lacquer workers refined this technique, called maki–e, and combined it with new materials for more elaborate designs. Metalworkers also began using a wider variety of base metals and alloys, creating works with greater detail and precision.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Dishes with Japanese-Parsley Motifs | Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century | Gift of Mr. Arakawa Hirokazu, H-4503 | ||||
| Highlight | Fire-Resistant Wear with Shimenawa Ropes | Edo period, 19th century | Gift of Mrs. Henry, I-3686 | On exhibit from September 15, 2026 | |||
| Highlight | Long-Sleeved Kimono (Furisode) with a Stormy Seascape | Edo period, 19th century | I-3857 | On exhibit from September 15, 2026 | |||
| Highlight | Mirror with a Handle and Chestnut Motif | Inscribed “Ieshige, Best in the Land” | Edo period, 17th–18th century | Gift of Mr. Tokugawa Yorisada, E-18163 |