Small Rohdea Collection IV

This illustration comes from the book Small rohdea collection, a Japanese text compiled by author Tadataka Mizuno and painter Sekine Untei, known for his paintings of plants and animals. The rohdea japonica is a species of plant native to Japan, China, and Korea. Other names for it include Nippon lily and sacred lily. The plant is tropical-looking, with broad evergreen leaves. If grown to fruit, it produces a tight cluster of small red berries.

The book was published in 1832, during the Tenpō era in the Edo period. The era was filled with strife—famine, poverty, and fatal illness struck many small villages around the country—and marked the beginning of the end of feudal governments. These simple, peaceful illustrations stand in contrast with the struggles and fiery rebellions of the time.

While the botanics in this illustration are beautiful in their own right, it’s easy to get distracted by the unique, intricate pots holding them. Pottery is one of the oldest Japanese art forms—the earliest known Japanese pottery dates back to the Neolithic period. At the time _Small rohdea collection_ was published, ceramic production was on the rise in Japan. Local governments had caught onto the profitability of ceramics and had begun funding more kilns. More porcelain clay deposits had also been discovered and advances in transportation meant master potters had more opportunity to travel and teach their crafts. This could explain the emphasis on stylistic idiosyncrasies and detail work in the pottery pictured in this edition.