Photo By Gail

In Buddhism, the Lotus symbolizes transcendence, as the flower emerges from stagnant water to bloom in bright colors. Here, the ceramicist Kawase Shinobu uses the clear blue celadon glaze known as seihakuji to capture the spiritual importance of a lotus bud. This vessel is designed to support burning incense sticks, with a lily-pad-shaped saucer to catch the falling ash.

Photographed in The Brooklyn Museum