– Crafted by Yamato Yasuo of Yasuo Kiln, a respected name in contemporary Hagi ceramics – Classic twin-handled gourd silhouette in soft cream and blush-pink Hagi glaze – Height approximately 19.8 cm – ideal for a single seasonal stem or ikebana display Summary: This elegant vase is the work of Yamato Yasuo, a ceramist working in the centuries-old Hagi-yaki tradition in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Hagi ware is renowned for its warm, porous clay and milky glazes that shift subtly with use, a quality known as nanabake or "seven transformations." This piece features the signature twin handles and gourd-inspired silhouette – forms rooted in tea ceremony aesthetics – rendered in the soft, sandy tones that make Hagi ceramics so desirable among collectors of Japanese pottery. The piece arrives in excellent vintage condition, a testament to both its careful making and thoughtful handling. There are vessels that announce themselves, and vessels that whisper. This one belongs firmly to the second group. The gentle asymmetry of the gourd form, the twin loop handles, and the quiet blush of the glaze all speak to a tradition that values restraint over spectacle. Yamato Yasuo has spent his career mastering the delicate balance between form and surface, between intention and accident, that defines great Hagi ware. Hagi-yaki traces its origins to the late sixteenth century, when Korean potters brought their wheel techniques to Yamaguchi during the turbulent years following Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaigns on the Korean Peninsula. The clay of the Hagi region – high in feldspar, low in iron – fires to a soft, absorbent body that interacts beautifully with fluid ash glazes. Over time, tea and moisture seep into the fabric of the vessel, creating subtle shifts in colour. This responsive quality is part of what makes Hagi ware so cherished in tea circles: the object becomes a partner in the ritual, changing as you live with it. Yamato Yasuo works within this lineage at the Yasuo Kiln, a studio known for balancing traditional techniques with a contemporary sensibility. His pieces are signed and sealed, marking them as part of an unbroken dialogue between past and present. The twin-handled gourd form you see here is a classic shape in the Hagi repertoire, originally inspired by natural gourds used as water flasks and later refined for use in the tea room. The soft cream glaze pools gently in the recesses, while pale pink blushes emerge where the firing has kissed the clay. These tonal variations are never quite the same twice – each piece is a record of its journey through the kiln. At just under twenty centimetres tall, this vase occupies that sweet spot between presence and discretion. It is tall enough to hold a single branch of winter quince or a spray of autumn grasses, yet small enough to sit comfortably on a desk, a tokonoma alcove, or a narrow mantelpiece. In a Western interior, the muted palette reads almost as a soft grey or sand, making it remarkably easy to integrate into Scandinavian, minimalist, or wabi-sabi-inspired spaces. The twin handles add a sculptural note, catching the light and creating subtle shadows that shift as the day moves on. The surface of Hagi ware is famously tactile. The slightly rough, sandy texture feels warm under the hand – a quality that comes from the clay's high silica content and the relatively low firing temperature. This is pottery meant to be touched, turned, appreciated at close range. In Japan, there is a tradition of cradling a Hagi tea bowl between the palms, feeling the weight and warmth of the clay. The same impulse applies here: this is not a purely visual object. It invites a slower, more embodied kind of attention. Overall condition is excellent. There are no chips, cracks, or repairs. The glaze shows only the lightest signs of age and handling – minor surface variation consistent with use and the natural ageing of the material. The body is sound, the handles intact, the foot ring clean. This is a piece that has been cared for, and it shows. For collectors of Japanese studio pottery, Hagi ware occupies a special niche. It lacks the dramatic graphic punch of Oribe or the austere gravitas of Bizen, but it offers something quieter and perhaps more enduring: a gentle, ongoing conversation between maker, material, and user. Yamato Yasuo's work is appreciated among those who value this understated eloquence. If you are drawn to ceramics that reward close looking, that grow more beautiful with time, and that bring a sense of calm to the spaces they inhabit, this vase offers an opportunity to welcome that tradition into your home. Shipping & Handling We ship worldwide via DHL or EMS with full insurance and tracking. Professional packing ensures safe arrival; combined shipping available for multiple wins. Local customs duties are the buyer's responsibility. Seller Guarantee We specialise in authentic Japanese ceramics and guarantee this piece's authenticity. Questions welcome – we reply within 24 hours. 1186