Flower vase, hibiscuses.
Important Cultural Property
Height 28.6 cm, mouth diameter 11.5 cm, body diameter 13.8 cm, bottom diameter 12.6 cm
This flower vase has a poem written on the back of the box lid by Masuda Koyan (Eisaku Nunoo’s pupil), who loved this flower vase and praised it. The gorgeous scenery, which even gives the impression of being sublimely natural, is truly appropriate for a work of this type, which is called “hana-iranai” (flower-less).
This vase is the thickest of all Iga Hanabi vases, and is made in the shape of a morning glory, with a rounded, ball-rimmed mouth, a four-sided mouth, and a circular body.
The shoulders are rounded, the body is slightly constricted, and the hem is narrow, with a thick rounded base supporting the body. Five small grids are placed on the shoulders, and the body is also clearly marked with ten vertical spatula marks, some of which have cracks in the kiln. The inside of the mouth and one of the sides, as well as the shoulder and body, are covered with a young green ash glaze, and the thickly glazed areas are pierced. The sides of the mouth and one side of the body are reddish, and the bottom is burnt purple-black in varying shades. There are repairs on the shoulders, a part of the seat is chipped, and the edge of the box also shows a white clay surface with two traces of sticking marks, which also fill in the holes that were once drilled in the front and back of the box.
On the front of the box lid, the word “hibiscuses” is written in gold-painted characters by Masuda Koyan, which probably represents “fuyo” (hibiscuses) in reference to the non-use of flowers.
