Potter: Morishige Eitetsu

Approximate size: W2.0″ by 2.5″ by H2.3″ or 6.3 by 5.2 by 6.0 cm

This is a pine-cone shaped kogo or incense container by famous Hagi potter Morishige Eitetsu (1930-2016). Topped off by a white glaze resembling snow this is a particularly fine work that strongly shows the quality of Hagi and pottery in general. Hefty in hand and the glaze shows amazing detail when viewed up close. Morishige Eitetsu was born in Hiroshima, Japan in 1930 and grew up surrounded by pottery. He was a regular member of the Hagi Ceramics Association and was a prolific potter.

Kogo are containers used to hold incense during the tea ceremony. Kogo vary depending on the season. In summer wooden kogo are used for holding chips of incense wood, and in winter ceramic kogo are used for holding kneaded incense intended for the hearth. During the tea ceremony, incense is added to the charcoal fire during the charcoal-laying procedure.

The origins of Hagi ware can be traced back to the arrival of Korean potters to Hagi, a quaint town situated in Yamaguchi Prefecture on the Japan Sea, following Japan’s military invasion of the Korean peninsula in the late 16th century. As a result, a large number of Korean craftsmen were abducted and transported to Japan, where they played a crucial role in establishing new pottery types such as Satsuma, Arita, and Hagi ware.

Hagi yaki has a tradition stretching back over 400 years and is a high-fired stoneware type of pottery. Hagi ware is prized for its subdued colours and classical features, especially the glazing is often clear and vivid. Hagi is also well known for frequently utilizing a milky, flowing white over-coating and crackled glazing. Typical Hagi ware is either white or a warm loquat or ‘Biwa’ orange in colour with no decoration. Its austere form might seem bland and unfinished at first sight but this is because Hagi ware is not complete until it is used. Not only is Hagi ware created for the explicit purpose of being used, but that it also dramatically changes colour through use.

Morishige Eitetsu won prizes at the Kyushu-Yamaguchi Exhibition, the Third Civilization Exhibition, Japan’s Kogei Association Western Exhibition, the Contemporary Craft China Exhibition, the Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition and many, many more. He also held frequent solo exhibitions at Nihonbashi Tokyu Department Store, Osaka and Hiroshima Mitsukoshi Department Store and others all over Japan.

The kogo is stamped with his stamp consisting of the kanji 栄 and 徹 meaning Eitetsu. There are no chips or cracks and condition is mint. Comes with the original quality paulownia tomobako with kiln stamp and calligraphy on the lid.

€150 + shipping cost