*SHIPPING OPTIONS VARY DEPENDING ON THE DESTINATION, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS LISTING FOR MORE DETAILS.  UPGRADES TO EMS EXPRESS AVAILABLE UPON CHECKOUT.

This listing is for a wood-fired Bizen-ware vase made by Yoshida Koichi. It features a natural ash glaze and was fired in an anagama tunnel kiln. It is in the yohen style which means that the piece was placed on the kiln floor and the ash and charcoal accumulated around it. The opening is wide enough to accommodate a decent sized bunch of flowers. 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 Japanese language profile about the potter, as well as a yellow wrapping cloth for when the item is not in use.

Yoshida Koichi (b.1960) is a Bizen-ware potter and he apprenticed under noted potter Mori Togaku from 1980-1992. Togaku was responsible for reintroducing the large single-chamber tunnel kiln from the Muromachi period, and Yoshida fires in a kiln such as this. His kiln is a staggering 20 metres long and this has allowed him to produce some fantastic serving platters and large sized tsubo. His tsubo have won numerous prizes within Okayama Prefecture, and he was selected for the Japan Tougei Exhibition.  **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and cannot be used in your own listings.

Bizen-ware is generally known for its iron-like hardness, simple unglazed texture, and distinctive markings resulting from wood-burning kiln firing. Because of the clay composition, Bizen pottery is fired slowly over a long period of time. Firings take place only once or twice a year. They require the wood fire to be kept burning for 10-14 days, which involves long hours and tonnes of wood. Bizen clay is dug up from rice fields and this iron rich clay is what gives most Bizen-ware its dark colours, though, a few potters prefer to use lighter mountain clay.

Sizes

Box:  H.25.3cm (9.9”) x 13cm (5.1”) x 13cm (5.1”)

Vase:  H.20.5cm (8”) x 8.3cm (3.2”) diameter rim x 9.5cm (3.7”) diameter base

Condition

It’s in very good condition aside from a slightly uneven base.

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION                                                                                                                                                                                  **Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  The aforementioned countries have very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to your country.  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:  SAL Sea Mail (approx. 11-12 weeks), an upgrade for EMS Express (7-10 days) available for an additional 5100 yen. 

**UK , Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe:  SAL Sea Mail (approx. 8-12 weeks depending on the destination), an upgrade for EMS Express (7-10 days) available for an additional 4050 yen. 

**Asia:  SAL Sea Mail (approx. 6-8 weeks), an upgrade for EMS Express (5-7 days) available for an additional 2050 yen. 

**Middle East, Central Asia, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico:  EMS Express only (7-15 days).

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.