The shape of this vase is modeled on that of a Chinese meiping bottle. From a narrow base, the shape widens at the body and shoulder, where it narrows again abruptly and rigidly. The narrow neck has a raised ring around it. From the lower part of the body upward, rows of plum blossoms are impressed at regular intervals. At the end of the 13th century, potters in Seto developed the ash glaze into a yellow-colored glaze which permitted even melting ; they also invented the tenmoku glaze by adding iron. This vase has a dark brown tenmoku glaze with a "wet" glossy texture.