4th Gen Takahashi Rakusai Shigaraki Eared Flower Vase with Signed Box, Cloth & Certificate

<p>Maker / Brand: Yondaime Takahashi Rakusai (Takahashi Mitsuo) Title of Work: Shigaraki Mimitsuki Hanaire by Yondaime Takahashi Rakusai, with Original Box, Cloth, and Shiori</p> <p>This exquisite Shigaraki Mimitsuki Hanaire (vase with "ears") is a distinguished work by Yondaime Takahashi Rakusai. Embodying the rustic charm of Shigaraki ware, it offers a profound connection to nature and traditional Japanese aesthetics. The vase itself shows no noticeable chips. It comes with its original wooden box (kyobako), cloth (kyofu), and shiori, which exhibit age-appropriate wear such as scratches, dirt, fraying, and folds.</p> <p>Artistic & Cultural Background Shigaraki ware, or Shigaraki-yaki, is one of Japan's oldest ceramic traditions, originating from Shigaraki. Known for its distinctive reddish-brown clay and natural ash glazes, Shigaraki pottery is celebrated for its wabi-sabi aesthetic – appreciating imperfection and simplicity. Cherished in the tea ceremony and for ikebana, it reflects a deep respect for natural materials and the firing process.</p> <p>Design & Technique This hanaire showcases classic Shigaraki qualities. Raw, iron-rich clay expresses itself fully, revealing subtle variations from firing. The "mimitsuki" (eared) design adds a unique sculptural element. Natural ash glaze, a hallmark of Shigaraki, creates an organic, speckled surface where molten ash from the kiln settles and vitrifies, producing spontaneous, unrepeatable patterns</p> <h3>Details</h3> <table style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100%"><tr><td style="padding:4px 12px 4px 0;font-weight:bold;white-space:nowrap">Condition</td><td style="padding:4px 0">Good</td></tr><tr><td style="padding:4px 12px 4px 0;font-weight:bold;white-space:nowrap">Origin</td><td style="padding:4px 0">Shigaraki, Shiga</td></tr><tr><td style="padding:4px 12px 4px 0;font-weight:bold;white-space:nowrap">Material</td><td style="padding:4px 0">Stoneware</td></tr><tr><td style="padding:4px 12px 4px 0;font-weight:bold;white-space:nowrap">Era</td><td style="padding:4px 0">Unknown</td></tr><tr><td style="padding:4px 12px 4px 0;font-weight:bold;white-space:nowrap">Dimensions</td><td style="padding:4px 0">高さ23.0cm / 幅13.0cm</td></tr></table>