AN EXCEPTIONALLY FINE AND SELDOM SEEN "SHINO" SCHOOL POTTERY VASE. THE HEIGHT IS 22 cm. / 9.75".  I BELIEVE IT TO BE SIGNED; ICHI MI AN (TITLE) / YATSUO (MAKERS NAME) TSUKURU (PRODUCED THIS).

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THE SWORD FITTINGS DECORATION ILLUSTRATES; A TSUBA DONE IN THE "MANJI" SYMBOL STYLE, THE REVERSE SWASTIKA THAT IS AN ANCIENT (DATING TO 3000 BC. IN EGYPT) WORLD WIDE SYMBOL OF GOOD FORTUNE. IT REMAINS ONE OF THE WORLDS GREAT MYSTERIES HOW IT GAINED POPULARITY UNTO THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH?  AS THERE WERE SUPPOSEDLY NO LINES OF COMMUNICATION, AND THE EARTH WAS THOUGHT TO BE FLAT! IT ALSO ILLUSTRATES SEVERAL OTHER TSUBA*, A KOZUKA* HANDLE, AND EVEN A KOJIRI*.

THERE IS NO DAMAGE, THE BODY IS SOUND, AND THE BULBOUS WELL CRACKLED GLAZE IS DONE IN THE TRUEST TRADITION OF THE "CHA-NO-RYU" (FORMAL TEA CEREMONY " VESSELS. THE FACT THAT IT IS EARLY TO MID EDO (17th.to 18th. CENTURY), AND REMAINS IN THIS CONDITION IS REMARKABLE. POTTERY IS NOT KNOWN FOR LONGEVITY.

IT WAS ACQUIRED FROM CHRISTIES MANY YEARS AGO, AND REINVESTIGATED IN 1999 (SEE CHRISTIES CORRESPONDENCE).

* SAMURAI SWORD FITTINGS NAMES:

TSUBA (THE HAND GUARD)

KOZUKA (SMALL SIDE KNIFE HANDLE)

KOJIRI (END CAP FOR SCABBARD)

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