Old Echizen jar (Uzukumaru style）

This old Echizen jar has a charming, plump form with gently sloping shoulders, giving it a relaxed, unassuming character.

Traditionally known as an ohaguro jar, it was used to store kane, an iron oxide solution used to blacken the teeth, as well as other substances such as oil.

One of the most appealing features of this jar is the remarkable variety of surface effects to be discovered from every angle.

Ash that fell onto the surface during firing has left sesame-like speckles, while variations in the firing have produced dark brown and blackish mottling. The contrast between matte areas and glossy patches, along with scratches across the body, adds further richness to its surface.

These effects are the result of chance occurrences in the kiln, impossible to reproduce by hand alone. It is rare to find a piece that offers such a wealth of varied details to enjoy as one turns it around and appreciates it from all 360 degrees.

A kiln mark resembling the Chinese character for “three” (三) is incised into the body. Its bold, deeply cut lines make it another distinctive feature.

There is a chip of approximately 1 cm along the rim, which has been repaired using the original fragment. Otherwise, the jar is in excellent condition.

Small jars began to be produced in greater numbers in Echizen from the Muromachi period onward. Based on its rolled rim and slightly spout-like shape, this example is thought to date from the Momoyama to early Edo period.

Many Echizen jars of this period have loop-shaped attachments, known as mimi (“ears”), on their shoulders. This example, however, has no such additions, retaining a remarkably simple, unadorned form. Its lack of ornamentation allows the charming silhouette and the characteristically smooth, almost slippery texture of Echizen clay to stand out all the more.

The jar can be enjoyed as a standing flower vase in its present form. With the addition of a metal ring to the back, it could also be adapted for use as a hanging flower vase.