Old Shigaraki earthen ware jar

It is a vase that is quiet yet has a variety of expressions.

One side has a lustrous reddish-brown earthen surface, like a mountain or field after rain, while the other side has a rugged appearance created by the fried ware inside the kiln.

It is just over 35cm tall. It has a large presence and a well-balanced plump, round shape and narrow mouth.

Shigaraki ware is one of the six ancient kilns that have continued from the Middle Ages to the present day, centered around Shigaraki in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture. Among them, the vases fired during the Muromachi period are the objects of desire for any connoisseur.

The most attractive feature of these pots is their appearance, which resembles a landscape of the mountains and fields. By firing the pottery in its original form without applying any glaze to the excavated mountain soil, they create an atmosphere that seems to be a direct copy of a natural landscape, something that cannot be reproduced artificially.

Just as there is no single natural landscape that is perceived as beautiful, there is no single answer to the appeal of Shigaraki vases. Perhaps it is precisely because none of them are the same that they continue to attract people's hearts.

The condition is also very good, and although there is a small chip on the rim due to aging, this does not negatively affect the condition of this old Shigaraki piece.

If you display it as a flower vase in the spacious entrance hall or alcove, it will bring the style of ancient times to the space.