Mug

The stein is complete, with a long cracked bottom. It is cylindrical in shape, with a straight wall topped by a straight rim with a domed top. The base of the wall flares out towards the bottom, which is flat and free of glaze; the center of the bottom is recessed and flat. It is fitted with a vertical ribbon handle, whose edges are swollen and whose lower tail is curved upwards; the decoration covers the outside of the stein, as well as the handle. The decoration is of the scenic lake type, and is treated in Imari. It is hand-painted in two-tone blue underglaze, then traced and painted in iron red, with gold highlights, over glaze. The main decoration on the outer wall consists of two islands traced in blue and painted in faded red in places, with grasslands traced in red. They are lined with large rocks traced and painted in blue with gilding, and trees traced in blue and painted in blue and red, with gilding. One of the islands houses a house with a gable roof, and the other an open pavilion; the house is traced in blue and painted in blue, red and gold, while the pavilion is traced in red and painted in gold. The two islands are linked by a small bridge supported by two pillars; it is outlined in blue with gilding. In the background rises a high mountain outlined in blue and painted in blue and gold; it supports a tall pagoda outlined in red with gilding. Blue-painted birds twirl in the sky. Mountains, traced and painted in red with gilding, rise in the distance. The outside of the handle features a cloud-like scroll with a tail, drawn in dark red and painted red.