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

Maker / Brand: Yondaime Takahashi Rakusai (Takahashi Mitsuo) Title of Work: Shigaraki Mimitsuki Hanaire by Yondaime Takahashi Rakusai, with Original Box, Cloth, and Shiori

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.

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.

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

Details

Condition	Good
Origin	Shigaraki, Shiga
Material	Stoneware
Era	Unknown
Dimensions	高さ23.0cm / 幅13.0cm