Rare Vintage Japanese Tsugaru-nuri Karanuri Vase with Two Matching Display Bases Akita-ya (秋田屋), Goshogawara, Aomori, Japan With Original Box and Period Documents A beautiful and increasingly difficult-to-find vintage example of authentic Japanese Tsugaru lacquerware, produced and sold by Akita-ya (秋田屋), formerly located in Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture. This remarkable set consists of a tall cylindrical vase and two matching rectangular display bases, all decorated in the distinctive traditional Karanuri (唐塗) style. The set is accompanied by its original storage box as well as original Akita-ya documentation explaining the history of Tsugaru lacquerware and instructions for the care of Tsugaru-nuri. These surviving documents are particularly interesting because they directly connect the piece with Akita-ya and its former address in Goshogawara, giving the set additional historical and collectible interest. TSUGARU-NURI – MORE THAN 300 YEARS OF JAPANESE LACQUER TRADITION Tsugaru-nuri is one of Japan's renowned traditional lacquer crafts and originates from the Tsugaru region of Aomori Prefecture, in the northernmost part of Honshu. Its origins can be traced back more than 300 years to the Edo period, when lacquer craftsmen working under the Tsugaru domain developed increasingly sophisticated decorative lacquer techniques. Tsugaru-nuri later developed into a distinctive regional craft and was officially designated as a Traditional Craft of Japan in 1975. It is particularly renowned for its exceptional durability and for the remarkable depth and complexity of its lacquered surfaces. KARANURI – THE REPRESENTATIVE TECHNIQUE OF TSUGARU LACQUERWARE This vase and its matching bases feature Karanuri (唐塗), perhaps the best-known and most representative technique of Tsugaru-nuri. Unlike decoration simply painted onto a finished surface, the characteristic Karanuri pattern is created through repeated applications of lacquer followed by drying, grinding and polishing. According to the Aomori Tsugaru Lacquerware Cooperative Federation, traditional Karanuri involves a total of 48 processes and requires at least approximately one and a half to two months to complete. Multiple layers of lacquer are gradually worked and polished to reveal the complex mottled pattern beneath. The result is an exceptionally deep and richly textured appearance that changes subtly according to the direction and intensity of the light. The red, green, black and golden-toned pattern of this set is particularly striking under illumination, producing the distinctive brilliance and depth associated with traditional Tsugaru lacquerware. Because the pattern is created through this complex process rather than simply printed or painted onto the surface, each finished piece possesses its own individual character. AKITA-YA (秋田屋) – A PIECE OF LOCAL TSUGARU LACQUERWARE HISTORY The surviving original documentation identifies the workshop / retailer as: Akita-ya (秋田屋) Honcho 77 Goshogawara City Aomori Prefecture, Japan Akita-ya was associated with Tsugaru lacquerware in Goshogawara, an important city in the Tsugaru region. Based on the period documentation accompanying this set and its older address and telephone notation, this is a vintage product dating from an earlier period of the workshop's operation. At present, an active Tsugaru lacquerware workshop or shop operating as Akita-ya at the address shown on these documents could not be confirmed through currently available information. It therefore appears that the original Akita-ya operation is no longer active, although an official record confirming the exact date or circumstances of its closure has not been located. For this reason, surviving Akita-ya pieces – particularly examples retaining their original box, period documentation and matching accessories – have an additional historical interest that cannot be reproduced by newly manufactured pieces. A PARTICULARLY COMPLETE SURVIVING SET One of the most attractive aspects of this lot is its completeness. Included are: • Tsugaru-nuri Karanuri vase • Two matching Karanuri display bases • Original storage box • Original Akita-ya information sheet concerning the history of Tsugaru lacquerware • Original Akita-ya care instructions The two long rectangular bases carry the same distinctive lacquer decoration as the vase and can be arranged in different configurations for display. The survival of the vase together with both matching bases, its box and the original printed documentation makes this considerably more interesting as a complete vintage presentation set than an isolated vase alone. MATERIAL AND FINISH Technique: Traditional Tsugaru-nuri / Karanuri (唐塗) Surface: Genuine lacquer finish Workshop / retailer: Akita-ya (秋田屋), Goshogawara, Aomori, Japan The substrate of the vase appears, from visual inspection, to be a molded material such as urea resin, which was used for some vintage Japanese lacquerware. However, because the accompanying documentation does not explicitly identify the substrate material, this should be considered an observation rather than a definitive material identification. The interior is finished in black. DIMENSIONS Vase: Height: approx. 24 cm Diameter / width: approx. 8 cm Weight: approx. 650 g Matching display bases: Quantity: 2 Each base: Width: approx. 35 cm Depth: approx. 9 cm Height: approx. 1 cm CONDITION The set remains in very good overall vintage condition. The exterior of the vase is particularly well preserved, with no significant scratches or major damage readily visible. Some minor scratches / traces of use can be seen inside the vase. The two matching lacquered bases are also very well preserved overall, with no significant damage readily visible. The original storage box shows normal signs of age and long-term storage, including rubbing, marks, dirt and minor deterioration, but remains in relatively good condition considering its age. Please carefully examine all photographs, as they form an important part of the condition description. COLLECTOR'S APPEAL This is not simply a decorative Japanese vase. It represents the highly labor-intensive tradition of Tsugaru lacquerware, in which repeated applications, drying, grinding and polishing gradually create the extraordinary depth of the Karanuri pattern. Traditional Karanuri requires 48 individual processes and approximately one and a half to two months to complete, making each finished object the result of considerable time, skill and craftsmanship. Traditional craft production in Japan has changed significantly over the decades, and workshops and specialist retailers that once supported regional crafts have gradually disappeared. Against this background, surviving vintage pieces associated with workshops that are apparently no longer active have increasing historical and documentary interest. This example is especially appealing because the original Akita-ya identity has not been lost: the vase survives together with its two matching bases, original storage box and period Akita-ya documentation. It is therefore not only a beautiful example of traditional Japanese lacquerware, but also a tangible surviving record of the regional craft culture and commercial history of Tsugaru. A highly attractive set for collectors of Japanese lacquerware, Tsugaru-nuri, traditional Japanese crafts and vintage Japanese decorative arts. ■Please Note■ Shipping Information: Items are shipped from Japan. As this involves international shipping, please be sure to check the shipping costs before placing a bid. Items are packed with great care to prevent damage during transit. Shipping costs are calculated based on the net weight of the item, packaging materials, and the weight of the shipping box. Depending on the situation, items will be shipped via DHL, FedEx, or Japan Post. Delivery typically takes 1 to 3 weeks. Import duties, taxes, and fees are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. 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