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

This listing is for a tea ceremony bell made around 50-60 years ago by Takaoka master craftsman, Suga Shoen II.  It is made of copper and was cast from a wax mould.  The handle is moulded to resemble a crane and the bell makes a pleasant sound when used.  It comes with its original signed wooden storage box, as well as a stamped turmeric coloured wrapping cloth for when the item is not in use.  It also comes with a Japanese language profile paper about Suga, and another about wax casting.

Suga Shoen II (1897-1979) was a Takaoka artisan and the eldest son of Edo-style wax casting pioneer Suga Shoen I (1868-1935).  He was born in Kyobashi and studied wax mould casting from his father.  Kyobashi was one of the oldest commercial districts in Tokyo, and was the original downtown centre in Edo-Tokyo.  In 1908 he moved to Takaoka city in Toyama Prefecture, and in 1935 he became the second generation Shoen.  In 1943 he was selected as a special recipient at the Ministry of Education Art Exhibition and was awarded the National Art Preservation Certification, and he received the Takaoka City Cultural Award.   In 1950 he received the North Nippon Shimbun 10^th Anniversary Commemorative Award, and in 1955 he received the Toyama Prefecture Crafts and Arts Merit Award and the 1^st Toyama Shimbun Culture Award.  In 1958 he was commissioned by Nitten, and in 1962 he was slected to become a committee member of the Japan Contemporary Crafts and Artists Association.  In 1964 he received the Toyama Prefecture Intangible Cultural Heritage Technology Holder Award, and in 1965 he became a member of the Nitten Jury Committee and a council member of the Japan Contemporary Crafts and Artists Association.  In 1966 he became a member of Nitten, and in 1967 he exhibited work at the 2^nd Japan Art Festival.  In 1967 he was selected for the Toyama Prefecture Cultural Properties Expert Committee, and in 1974 he became a consultant to the Japan Contemporary Crafts Artists Association.  He also became a nationally designated Intangible Cultural Property Holder in the category of wax casting, and he was awarded the highly coveted Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fourth Class.  Suga’s work fetches high prices in Japan and is highly sought after by collectors. **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.

Takaoka city is the leading producer of copperware in all of Japan, its origins going back some 400 years to feudal times. They produce items for religious purposes, the tea ceremony, as well as pots and pans for daily use. Manufacturing involves several stages beginning with the making of moulds in either wax or resin. This is followed by casting via the lost-wax process, and then finishing and colouring. During the colouring process other metals may be added and lacquer is sometimes added to the base. All these processes combined create Japan’s finest copperware, all done by highly skilled master craftsmen.

Sizes

Box:  H.8.7cm (3.4”) x 17.8cm (7”) x 8.2cm (3.2”)

Bell:  H.15.5cm (6.1”) x Dia.5.7cm (2.2”)

Condition

It’s in very good condition aside from possible surface rust on the interior, and the box is a little spotty.

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.