This Kyō-yaki (京焼) mizusashi (水指) is an elegant ceramic water container created for use in the Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu). Mizusashi are essential utensils used to hold fresh water for preparing tea, and Kyoto wares are especially valued for their refined decorative painting and graceful forms.
The design features a series of folding fans (扇 / ōgi) arranged across the body, each fan filled with seasonal floral motifs in red, blue, yellow, and green. The fans appear to float over stylized swirling water patterns painted in cobalt blue, creating a sense of movement and elegance. Such fan motifs are traditionally associated with prosperity, celebration, and the spreading of good fortune.
Kyō-yaki, produced in Kyoto since the Edo period, is renowned for its sophisticated painting techniques and connection to tea culture. Pieces like this mizusashi exemplify the Kyoto tradition of combining refined artistry with functional tea ceremony utensils, making the vessel both a practical tool and a decorative highlight within the tea room.
