Old Japanese Tokkuri – Yakishime – 11 cm – Bizen inspiration – Shōwa period

📐 Features

• Era: 20th century (probably second half)
• Origin: Japan, found in Yamaguchi Prefecture
• Material: Japanese grog clay ceramic
• Technique: Yakishime 焼締め, wood-fired kiln (穴窯 anagama or 登り窯 noborigama), unglazed
• Use: Tokkuri 徳利, sake carafe
• Dimensions: Height approx. 11 cm – Widest diameter 9 cm
• Capacity: approx. 180 ml (≈ 1 合 go)
• Weight: approx. 280 g
• Condition: Very good vintage condition, naturally irregular surface, no cracks or chips
• Mark: Kanji 永 (Ei) engraved under the base, potter or kiln signature (unidentified)

Description

This Japanese yakishime (焼締め) tokkuri is a utilitarian piece from the tradition of unglazed Japanese ceramics (mushōyū 無釉), where earth and fire alone create the aesthetic. Made from grog clay, it was fired for a long time in a wood-fired kiln (anagama or noborigama), allowing subtle areas of natural vitrification (shizen-yū 自然釉) to appear. It is freely inspired by the Shigaraki and Bizen styles.

The surface presents a mineral and granular texture, animated by nuances of deep brown and ash tones, direct witnesses of the fire's passage. The throwing marks remain visible and give the whole a sober presence, rooted in the mingei 民藝 spirit, where the object is primarily designed for use.

Underneath the base, the piece bears the kanji 永 (Ei, “eternity”), a workshop mark or a symbolic sign, without documented attribution to an identified potter.

🦝 Our opinion

We love the density of the grog clay, palpable to the touch, and the yakishime (焼締め) firing which reveals deep nuances, without any artifice. The kanji 永 (Ei) engraved under the base, discreet but full of meaning, brings an almost meditative dimension to the object. A typically Japanese tokkuri, unpretentious but designed to accompany sake through time.