If the smaller Shigaraki owl vase is about a moment of charm, this taller version is about presence.
Same ancient Shigaraki clay, same iron-rich coarse texture, same handmade honesty. But where the smaller piece has its owl perched openly on a branch, this one reveals its owl through a hollow cut into the trunk itself. The bird peers out from inside, partially sheltered, as though it has been there all along and you have only just noticed. Small stub branches protrude from the sides of the trunk, adding to the naturalism of the form.
The finish transitions from warm russet brown at the top to a pale sandy cream at the base, giving the piece a gradient that grounds it visually and reflects the natural variation of Shigaraki firing. The vertical grain lines scored into the clay surface reinforce the tree bark illusion without overstating it.
At 17cm tall it has genuine shelf presence. It will hold a single stem beautifully, particularly something with height such as a dried grass, an allium stem, or a eucalyptus branch. It also works without anything in it at all.
This and the smaller owl vase work exceptionally well displayed together. Two pieces, same tradition, two completely different expressions of the same idea.
Handmade in Shigaraki, Japan. 5 x 5 x 17cm.
