Echizen Vase

Stoneware

Hôgetsugama

This vase is 18.3 cm high and 19 cm wide at its widest point. The opening is 7.5 cm wide.

This Echizen vase impresses with its concentrated, almost spherical form and a restrained, short neck with a flat rim. The proportions appear deliberately closed and lend the piece a calm appearance.

The unglazed surface is characterized by fine, sandy clay and natural ash deposits. Light, almost chalky deposits in the shoulder area meet darker, vertically running firing marks in the lower area. These contrasts are created solely by the movement of flame and ash in the wood kiln and make the surface multi-layered without appearing intrusive.

The texture is grainy and lively, with a palpable depth. Small irregularities and color changes are an integral part of the piece and clearly refer to the artisanal origin and the long firing tradition of Echizen.

As a solitary piece, this vase unfolds a quiet, archaic power. Arranged with a few branches or a single blossom, a reduced, almost meditative effect is created. An object that decorates less than accompanies and enriches the room through its restraint.