This Kiyomizu-yaki vase, crafted by the respected Kyoto ceramics maker Tachikichi (たち吉), showcases a striking blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern aesthetic sensibility. The piece features a tall, gently twisting square form that creates graceful vertical lines and subtle movement.
Tachikichi founded in 1752 (mid-Edo period) in Kyoto, it is one of Japan’s most respected producers and retailers of ceramics and tableware. With over 260 years of history, the brand became known for blending traditional Kyoto aesthetics with modern functional design, making their pieces popular both in Japan and abroad.
Its surface is finished with a dramatic contrast of glazes: a deep, matte wine-red clay body rising into a flowing, glossy pale blue and white drip glaze that cascades down from the upper section. The effect evokes snowmelt on mountain peaks, reinforced by the inscription on the original wooden tomobako, which references “山の峰” (yama no mine, “mountain peak”).
The vase’s combination of sharp geometric form and soft organic glazing is characteristic of contemporary Kiyomizu-yaki, a Kyoto ceramic tradition known for refinement, precision, and artistic experimentation.
