Wood-fired pottery seems to love angles. A previous tokkuri I had by the great Tamba potter Nishihata Tadashi featured multiple facets, and a recent Bizen incense burner by Toyofuku Hiroshi was also made with multiple folding planes. This allows defined surfaces - each at a slightly different angle to the flame - to be scorched, coloured, and tinted by the kiln’s wood fuel.

While this square vase also has four sharp corners and distinct “faces”, Nishihata tapered the tops and bottoms slightly, giving a fullness - and even lightness - to the body. The small mouth is placed in the middle of an otherwise covered top, which also features elegant curves from each corner. And there are dramatic differences as you turn each side. Especially the deep orange plane where the kiln’s effects are most vibrant.

This vase is also quite light for its size. It gives the immediate impression of a very rustic pot, but when viewed more closely and held in the hand, its roughness quickly dissolves into a surprising elegance. Aside from being a functional vase - watertight and with a curving mouth that allows flowers to rest against the lip without moving - Nishihata has also made a sculptural object. He balances the materials it’s made with and the purpose it serves.

Comes with the signed, stamped, and titled wood box.