An inheritance of flame and philosophy: the Akane-Shinsha chaire (tea caddy) “Jukushi”. It is a rare chaire that mirrors the cosmos in the palm of the hand.
Worth a Castle and Its DomainIn the Warring States period the chaire was said to be worth as much as a castle and its domain, and its value lay also in being a mirror of its owner’s spirit and of a concentrated “view of the cosmos”.
Jukushi — the Last Fruit“Jukushi”, by Shinemon II (Kusuo Baba), holds the philosophy of hope and compassion toward the future that is contained in the “last fruit” left on the branch in the wish for a bountiful harvest the following year.
Akane-Shinsha, the Colour of DawnThe crimson that wraps the vessel is Shinemon Kiln’s
akane-shinsha, which calls to mind a burning sky at daybreak. Shinsha has been held since ancient times to be an extremely difficult technique; under the conviction that “tradition is a succession of innovations”, the maker held a dialogue with an uncontrollable flame and, through a great many attempts, brought forth this crystallisation. No two of these colours are ever the same.
A Vessel for MeditationThrough the accidental beauty of
yohen (kiln transformation), “Jukushi” expresses that philosophy, the crimson that reflects the sky at dawn, and the idea of holding the cosmos in the palm, as a single presence unlike any other in the world. Take this chaire in your hands in the quiet, and it becomes a “vessel of meditation” in which you face the cosmos within yourself. We hope you will keep it, and know for yourself the joy of becoming the one who carries on this most unusual story.
Contents and DimensionsChaire (tea caddy) × 1, paulownia box, artist booklet.
Height: 5.2cm, Diameter: 7.9cm / Lid diameter: 4.1cm, Foot diameter: 4cm / Body: 128g, With box: 222g
As each piece is handmade, slight variations in size may occur.