Burst bag' Freshwater Jar, late 16th - early 17th century, Unknown Japanese, 8 1/4 × 8 11/16 × 8 11/16 in. (20.96 × 22.07 × 22.07 cm), Iga ware; stoneware with natural ash glaze; lacquer cover, Japan, 16th-17th century, Fittingly named 'Burst Bag' (Yaburebukuro) by a previous owner, this water jar (mizusashi) epitomizes the purposeful rusticity admired by masters of the Japanese tea ceremony during the 1500s. The potter left the marks of his hands and fingers as he created the form on the wheel and made deep irregular incisions to augment the vessels dramatic shape. The jar was fired for between seventeen and seventy days, further deforming the vessel and leaving scorch marks and cracks that interact visually with vitreous green ash glaze.