Ko Kutani Style Yokode Kyusu

An exquisite, handmade and hand-painted Kutaniyaki teapot from Ōta Toshihide.

The teapot is painted in stunning detail. The porcelain is so fine that it is translucent, the outer paint shining through when held up to the light.

In the medallions, beloved motifs are depicted that originate from Chinese culture but later became popular in Japanese art as well. One medallion features Fukurokuju, the god of wisdom, luck, longevity, wealth, and happiness. He is distinguished by his elongated forehead and is often associated with scholarly pursuits. The second medallion shows a beautiful bird perched among plum blossoms. Since plum trees bloom in the cold of winter, they symbolize resilience. The third medallion portrays a Chinese-style landscape. In ancient times, the heavenly landscape was imagined as Chinese mountain ranges, which were considered the ideal and most beautiful scenery.

They say the long, freezing, and colorless winters of the Hokuriku region made locals crave colors and thus, Kutaniyaki, the traditional ceramic style of the region was born. Kutaniyaki is using vivid and bold colors, making their style unmistakable.

This particular teapot was painted in Ko-Kutani style. The term "Kutani" means "Nine Valleys" and was first mentioned in 1655. Clays for porcelain were discovered in the Kutani mines and the earliest pottery made from the local clay is known as old Kutani (Ko-Kutani). Ko-Kutani, popular for decades but now very rare, featured Aote (green, yellow, blue, purple) and Iroe (red, green, purple, blue, yellow) styles.

The teapot comes in a paper gift box.

Place of origin: Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan


☆ WE GUARANTEE SAFE DELIVERY - if the product gets damaged in transit we will replace it or make a refund.

☆ HANDMADE PRODUCT - Please note that the item we have in stock might not be the same piece shown in the pictures above. Each piece is unique and slightly different from the others. If you are particular about either the size, the capacity, or the appearance, contact us, and we will share photos or the exact details of our available pieces in stock.

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