Suzuki Shōnen (1849–1918) 
Nine Flaming Jewels 
Japan, late 19th–early 20th century 
Porcelain 
Gift of Terry Welch, 2021 (2021-03-003)

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Flaming jewels were traditional symbols of Buddhist enlightenment and became a popular subject in Japanese ink painting. Although there are only five cups in this set, some have multiple jewels, resulting in nine total (nine being an auspicious number in Buddhism). Shōnen was a professor at the Kyoto Prefecture Painting School (later Kyoto School of Arts and Crafts), as well as a famous painter from a well-established traditional family lineage. 
 
Shōnen probably only painted the designs on the cups; their shaping, glazing, firing, etc. were done by an unknown ceramic specialist. Kyoto ceramics are well known for their brightly colored glazes, a tradition dating back to the Edo period (1615–1868). At the same time, before the modern period only stoneware was made in Kyoto, and porcelain such as this was a new development.