Antique Shigaraki Tsubo with Higaki-Mon early 17th. century

A beautiful example of an antique Shigaraki Tsubo (storage jar) Vase displaying classic Shigaraki markings of red ochre, pale and natural ash glaze.

This eye-catching tsubo dates back to the the beginning of the 17th century, early Edo Period (1603-1868).

Standing in front of this massive tsubo with its aesthetic form, its Higaki Mon (檜垣文, cypress fence pattern), its rough natural glazes and sparkling tsuchi-aji (clay flavor), one cannot help but feel in awe of their makers, and the beauty to be found in profound simplicity.

You know of course that most of the used jars which survived from this period present a broken neck. But this unique piece of art is in wonderful antique condition. The few minor flaws in glaze and firing are consistent with age and type.

The Shigaraki kilns in Shiga prefecture have been an active pottery centre since the Kamakura period (1185–1333) and continue to produce pottery up to the present day. Like it's close cousin Bizen, Shigaraki wares were originally daily utensils with tsubo (jars), kame (wide-mouthed jars) and suribachi (grinding bowls) the main staples. Not until the TEA MASTERS of the Muromachi (1336-1568) and Momoyama periods (1568-1603) favored these natural wares did they develop into one of Japan's most loved ceramic styles.

Size: 18 cm height, 1.5 KG!