Please read carefully before purchasing. Shipping method — The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by DHL or FedEx or EMS 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 Customs 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. Item Description A tall, elegant flower vase crafted in the tradition of Hida Shunkei lacquerware, one of Japan's most celebrated and officially designated traditional crafts. Produced in the historic city of Takayama in Gifu Prefecture, Hida Shunkei is distinguished above all by its signature technique: a transparent urushi lacquer finish that allows the natural wood grain to shine through in all its beauty, resulting in a warm, luminous amber tone unique to each individual piece. This vase is a fine example of the craft, showcasing the characteristic golden-amber warmth of Hida Shunkei, with the living wood grain of hinoki cypress (or sawara cypress) visible beneath the clear lacquer surface. The form is clean and architectural — a tall, gently tapered rectangular body resting on a broad, slightly flared base — creating a commanding yet refined presence in any room. The interior features a smooth, rounded cavity for flower arrangement, and the base reveals the natural wood construction typical of Hida Shunkei craftsmanship. Hida Shunkei lacquerware traces its origins to the early Edo period (early 17th century), when master carpenter Takahashi Kizaemon was captivated by the beauty of a split piece of sawara cypress and fashioned it into a tray. The tray was lacquered with transparent urushi by master lacquerer Narita Sanemon and presented to the feudal lord's household. Its warm, translucent amber color was said to resemble the famous tea caddy "Hi-Shunkei" by master potter Kato Kagemasa — and so the name "Shunkei" was born. Designated as a nationally recognized Traditional Craft by the Japanese government in 1975, Hida Shunkei is the product of two distinct craft lineages: the wood-shaping kiji-shi (wood turners) and the nuri-shi (lacquerers), whose collaborative mastery is inseparable from the finished work. One of the unique pleasures of Hida Shunkei is its transformation over time: as the lacquer ages, it becomes increasingly transparent, allowing the wood grain to emerge ever more vividly, deepening the richness and character of the piece with each passing year. The original presentation box is included. My message / 私のメッセージ Thank you so much for taking a look at my items. I run a recycle shop in Japan and joined Catawiki because I want to share wonderful items filled with Japanese craftsmanship and history with the world. If you have any questions about the item, please feel free to message me at any time. With gratitude to everyone — ARIGATO. Please read carefully before purchasing. Shipping method — The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by DHL or FedEx or EMS 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 Customs 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. Size Height: 27.5 cm Width: 9 cm Depth: 9 cm Weight 400 g Condition In excellent condition with minimal signs of wear; no notable damage, chips, or cracks to the lacquer surface. Artist Profile This vase is a work of Hida Shunkei lacquerware, a craft tradition originating in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, in the early 17th century. Designated as a nationally recognized Traditional Craft (Dento Kogeihin) by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 1975, Hida Shunkei is celebrated for its transparent lacquer technique, which preserves and highlights the natural wood grain rather than concealing it beneath opaque pigments or decorative painting. Each piece is a collaboration between a wood-turning specialist (kiji-shi) and a lacquer specialist (nuri-shi), whose combined expertise produces the distinctive amber-toned, luminous finish for which the tradition is famous. As the lacquer matures, it grows more transparent over time, making each piece a living, evolving object of beauty.