Item Description This is an Oni-Hagi (鬼萩) flower vase (hana-ike) by 黒田岳 Kuroda Gaku, a ceramicist working in the Hagi ware tradition from his studio, Nanchi Kobo (南地工房), in Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture. He is a registered member of the Hagi Ceramic Artists Association. Oni-Hagi is distinguished from standard Hagi ware by its double-firing process: the piece is fired once in the conventional manner, then fired a second time to develop an exceptionally rugged, mineral-rich surface. Kuroda's technique employs Mishima island clay blended with coarse sand, finished with a straw glaze and fired in oxidation. The result is a surface that reads almost geological — dense with texture, colour variation, and the unpredictable beauty that only the kiln can produce. This vase has a boldly sculptural, roughly rectangular form that tapers toward the base. The surface shifts dramatically across its four faces: warm sandy beige and ochre tones are interrupted by deep burnt-orange and russet pooling at the lower body, while flashes of pale blue-grey glaze gather in the recesses of the upper section. Coarse grog particles and pebble-like inclusions are visible throughout, embedded in the heavily textured clay body. The mouth opening is small and square, set into a broad, organically shaped shoulder. The unglazed foot reveals the raw, sand-laden clay body characteristic of Oni-Hagi. Each face of the vase presents a distinct character, making it equally compelling from every angle. Hagi ware holds the second rank among Japanese tea wares, expressed in the traditional saying "Raku first, Hagi second, Karatsu third." The tradition was designated an Intangible Cultural Asset in 1957 and a traditional handicraft in 2002. Size Height: 20 cm Width: 10 cm Depth: 9.5 cm Weight 1,386 g Condition No chips, cracks, or repairs are visible. The surface texture, colour variation, and glaze pooling are entirely consistent with the Oni-Hagi double-firing process and are intentional characteristics of the work, not damage. Artist Profile Kuroda Gaku is a studio ceramicist working within the Hagi ware tradition, based at Nanchi Kobo (南地工房) in Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture. He specialises in Oni-Hagi, a demanding sub-style in which pieces undergo a second firing after the initial kiln run, producing the characteristically rugged, powerful surface that sets his work apart from the softer aesthetic of conventional Hagi ware. His technique combines Mishima island clay with coarse sand, finished with a straw glaze and fired in oxidation. Documented works include flower vases, chawan tea bowls, guinomi sake cups, and small plates, all produced under the Oni-Hagi method. Like all Hagi ware, his pieces develop fine crazing (貫入) in the glaze over time; as tea and other liquids seep into these cracks, the vessel's colour and lustre gradually transform with use — a quality celebrated as "Hagi's seven transformations" (萩の七変化). Comes with the original wooden box (tomobako) and an accompanying booklet (shiori). Origin: Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. NOITICE: The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, DHL or FedEx depend on the situation. It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Sometimes Customes or delivery company in your country contact you for Customs clearance via phone or email. Please make sure that you could answer the phone. If you don't, the parcel will return to me and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping. I appreciate your cooperation.