CERAMIC SINGLE-FLOWER VASE (ICHIRIN-ZASHI) “TARU” IN THE KO-SHIGARAKI STYLE

Harumi Kagezan (景山).

Ko-Shigaraki ceramics (古信楽); hand-formed, coarse-grained grog clay with mineral inclusions, high-temperature wood firing, natural ash glaze.

height — 14 cm.

A collectible hand-formed interior vase for a single flower (ichirin-zashi). The vessel follows the canons of medieval Japanese wabi-sabiWabi-sabi 侘寂 — a key Japanese aesthetic concept that prescribes valuing true beauty in its transience, incompleteness and noble imperfection (asymmetry, traces of time, roughness of texture). aesthetics and reproduces the archaic form of a small barrel (“taru”). The rounded walls are decorated with a carved geometric igeta motif (the cross-shaped “well” sign). The surface has an expressive texture with natural runs of kiln ash vitrified during the wood firing, which makes every piece unique.

The artist’s mark is incised on the base.

Original wooden box (tomobakoTomobako 共箱 — an authentic box of valuable, seasoned wood (often paulownia), made specially for a particular piece. On the lid the master or owner personally inscribes in ink the calligraphic title of the object, his signature and the impression of a personal seal. It is the principal certificate of authenticity.) with the calligraphic name of the vase form “Taru” (樽), the artist’s signature, his personal square cinnabar seal “Kagezan” (景山), and a large authentic kiln stamp in the upper right corner — “Ko-Shigaraki” (古信楽).