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

This listing is for a Seto-ware okimono made around 30 years ago by Murakami Yoshimi.  It was made from a slip mould and moulded to resemble a resting ox.  The exterior features brown iron based glaze with light coloured ash based glaze over the top.  This piece was most likely made to commemorate the Year of the Ox in 1985. The signature of the potter can be found on the bottom, and it comes with its original signed wooden storage box.  It also comes with a wooden display board, as well as a Japanese language profile paper about the potter. 

Murakami Yoshimi (b.1925) was a Seto-ware potter and former master of Keisen Gama.  He was born in Seto city and graduated from Seto Ceramics High School in 1942.  He succeeded as head of the family ceramics business in 1946 and began to study studio pottery under Kato Haruji at Aoi Gama.  From then on he began producing teaware, okimono, and pottery frames.  **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.

Seto-ware was originally used to describe ceramics that were produced in and around the village of Seto, in Aichi Prefecture. The soil around the city contains good quality porcelain clay as well as silica for making glass. Among the major kiln groups established by the Kamakura period only those at Seto developed the deliberately applied glaze instead of the old natural ash glaze. The rich Seto glaze was perfected during the fifteenth century, and later adopted by potters of Mino Province. Seto is currently the largest producer of ceramic novelties, such as animal and bird okimono, dolls, ashtrays, and vases.

Japanese okimono figurines are decorative items used for display purposes. Junishi okimono are those commemorating the twelve animals and mythological beasts from the astrological calendar. The Japanese astrological calendar is known as eto, and the twelve creatures are called junishi. The Zodiac’s popularity peaked during the Edo Era, and it was then that junishi okimono production became more widespread. These days, potters and production kilns produce hundreds of junishi each year to welcome the coming New Year. These are often displayed in shops, restaurants, people’s homes, and tea rooms.

Sizes

Box:  H.14.6cm (5.7”) x 23.8cm (9.3”) x 14.8cm (5.8”)

Ox:  H.10.2cm (4”) x L.19.8cm (7.7”) x W.11.1cm (4.3”)

Board:  H.0.9cm (0.3”) x L.21.9cm (8.6”) x W12.5cm (4.9”)

Condition

The ox is in very good condition with no chips or cracks, the board however has scratches and scuffing. 

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.