*SHIPPING OPTIONS VARY DEPENDING ON THE DESTINATION, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS LISTING FOR MORE DETAILS.

This listing is for a rather solid Imari-ware sake bottle made around 30-40 years ago.  It is made of porcelain and the front is decorated with a scene from the story about the rabbit that crossed the sea.  According to an old legend, there once was a white rabbit who wished to reach Inaba from the island where he lived.  He could not accomplish this on his own, so he decided to trick the sharks into helping him.  He spotted a shark just out to sea and called out to it, “I bet there are more of us rabbits than there are sharks.  Why don’t you have all the sharks line up and I’ll count them!”  The thought of losing to a rabbit was more than the shark could tolerate, so he had everyone line up all the way over to Inaba.  The white rabbit put his plan into action and began to hop along the backs of the sharks.  Just as he was about to reach land he quipped, “I tricked you all into lining up for me just so I could get to Inaba, what fools you are!”  The last shark, infuriated by the actions of the devious rabbit, grabbed the rabbit and ripped off a large strip of fur.  The rabbit’s wound was touched by sea water, and the salty breeze caused the rabbit’s skin to crack and bleed.  A boy named Okununishi encountered the rabbit lying in the grass wailing in pain.  He asked the white rabbit what had happened, and the rabbit truthfully explained.  The boy promised to help the rabbit if he promised not to fool anyone again.  The rabbit agreed, so the boy took the rabbit down to the river and washed him.  He laid out some cattails and gently rolled the rabbit over them, making sure that the wound absorbed the cattail’s medicine.  The rabbit’s pain stopped and the wound made a speedy recovery, but more importantly, the white rabbit that crossed the sea never fooled anybody ever again.  This item would be nice to decorate with pampas grass on the night of the harvest moon, or a nice gift for somebody born in the Year of the Rabbit.

Imari-ware refers to pottery produced in Okawachiyama Village in Imari town. It is roughly divided into four different types: Iro-Nabeshima, Nabeshima-Sometsuke, Nabeshima-Seiji, and Nabeshima/Koimari. Iro-Nabeshima is characterized by red, yellow and green designs painted on a pure white or blue and white background. Nabeshima-Sometsuke uses indigo blue paint on a white base, Nabeshima-Seiji is pale green or blue-green coloured pottery, and Nabeshima/Ko-Imari is the name given to porcelain produced in the kilns of the Nabeshima clan. Ko-Imari refers to porcelain produced during the Edo and Meiji Periods.

Size

H.28.3cm (11.1”) x 13.5cm (5.3”) across x 3.6cm (1.4”) diameter rim

Condition

It’s in very good condition with no chips or cracks, just some very light wear here and there.

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION                                                                 

**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  Very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to these countries.  We have no plan to register at this time because the process is in some cases very expensive and complicated, plus each country has its own set of regulations and application process. 

**USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway: Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-28 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Asia:  Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-21 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Central Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico:  EMS Express 10-15 days.

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.