Height 25.3 cm, mouth diameter 10.8 cm, bottom diameter 13.0 cm
This vase has a thick cylindrical shape with the mouth opening horizontally like a bell, and a thick line running slightly below the center of the body. The front has a flowing grass-green glaze from the mouth to the hem, as if from a waterfall, and the back has a red surface with some gray and black burns, creating a vivid scene. It is clear that this is an Iga ware from the late Tensho period, as there is a flower vase similar to this one, which is attributed to Sen no Rikyu’s zaiban, or it may have been a tea utensil favored by Rikyu.
Moreover, it was once in the possession of Oribe Furuta, and is accompanied by a letter from Oribe as follows: “The flower vase is now in our possession, and we are afraid to give it to you, as we are afraid that you will not be able to obtain it until next spring. It is interesting to note that he said that it was like having his fingernails ripped off to give away his beloved vase, which is why it is called “Nama-tsume” (生爪). The person who made the request was Ueda Sokatsu, who was known as a tea ceremony master, and the vase was later passed on to Dopaku and Itamiya Sofu.
