Sekizawa Takeshi Mashiko Bottle Vase, Teal-Green Glaze, Wax-Resist Kanji, Signed, Tochigi Japan

GREEN-BLACK GLAZE, WRITTEN IN BARE CLAY

Hold it and the first thing you notice is the weight: a thick, dense body that settles into the hand. The glaze is a deep, glossy teal-green that goes almost black in the shadows, with streaks of brown and violet running down the shoulders. On the front, a kanji inscription stands out in cream, in the colour of the bare clay beneath the glaze. Turn the vase over and a small motif is left in the same cream inside the foot, with a cursive line beside it. A narrow neck rises to a flat, plate-like lip. This is a handmade studio pottery bottle vase, attributed to Sekizawa Takeshi of Mashiko, for the shelf or a single stem.

QUICK FACTS
• Type: bottle vase / bud vase, glazed
• Attribution: Sekizawa Takeshi (関沢 武 [confirm kanji]), Mashiko, Tochigi, Japan [per our research: source: ____ ; no certificate]
• Kiln: [Sekizawa kiln, 関沢窯: confirm]
• Glaze: deep glossy teal-green with brown and violet streaks
• Decoration: cream kanji inscription on the body, a cursive line near the foot, and a small motif inside the foot recess, appearing to be wax resist (ロウ抜き)
• Inscription: first character 一 (one), second character [reading pending; possibly 憩, "rest"]
• Form: squat globular body, short neck, flat flared plate-like lip, trimmed foot ring
• Body: pale grey-beige clay, unglazed on the foot ring
• Forming: handmade, [hand-thrown on the wheel / hand-built: confirm]
• Marks: [describe signature, seal and their reading]
• Origin: Mashiko

ABOUT MASHIKO
Mashiko, in Tochigi Prefecture, is one of Japan's best-known pottery towns. Mashiko ware began around 1853, when Otsuka Keizaburo, who had learned the craft at Kasama, built a kiln there to make practical ware from local clay. In 1930 the potter Hamada Shoji settled in Mashiko, and through the mingei (folk craft) movement he brought it worldwide fame. Today more than 440 potters and kilns work in Mashiko, most of them from elsewhere, and the town has no strict definition of "Mashiko ware", so styles range widely. Traditional Mashiko glazes include persimmon-brown, black, amber, rice-bran white, ash and rice-bran celadon. The deep teal-green of this vase is described here by what we see, not as a traditional Mashiko glaze.

WRITING WITH WAX
Resist decoration, called rō-nuki (ロウ抜き), uses wax painted onto the clay before glazing. The glaze cannot cling to the waxed lines, so they fire in the colour of the bare clay. That is how the inscription and the foot motif appear here, as pale, matte lines against a deep, glossy glaze. We believe this is the technique used but have not confirmed it.

THE INSCRIPTION
The first character is 一 (one). The second is not yet confirmed; one candidate is 憩 (rest), which would make "一憩", "a short rest". The cursive line near the foot may be the potter's signature. [If read: state it here, and say how it matches the attribution.]

HANDMADE, AND HEAVY
The round, even profile and the neatly trimmed foot ring suggest the vase was thrown on a potter's wheel, the method that gives rotationally symmetrical forms. It is a thick, dense, weighty piece. We describe it as handmade studio pottery and do not claim it was built without a wheel.

DISPLAY NOTE
Sold as a collectible display vase. The glaze has not been tested for lead or other substances, so we do not recommend using it for food or drink. NOT FOR FOOD USE. For flowers, use a glass or plastic liner. Wipe with a soft dry cloth and avoid abrasive pads.

CONDITION AND AUTHENTICITY
Sold as a studio pottery vase attributed to Sekizawa Takeshi of Mashiko on the basis of. No certificate or signed box accompanies this vase. Glaze streaks, pinholes and reflections are part of its character. Please review all photos and ask any question before buying.

SHIPPING
Packed in double-boxed protection with foam and paper cushioning. The neck and lip are the most fragile parts. Ships worldwide with tracking. Duties and taxes may apply on arrival.