Tokkuri Tokkuri Made of Bizen Ware by Koken Hibata

Left entirely unglazed, this tokkuri reveals the primal beauty of Bizen ware: earthy, dark gray tones shift into shimmering shades of blue and brown, while scattered lighter patches speak of the unpredictable effect of wood ash in the kiln. The bulging, slightly irregular shape with its slender, flared neck is typical of this traditional sake bottle.

Bizen is among the oldest ceramic traditions of Japan and deliberately forgoes glaze in order to make the pure, immediate effect of clay and fire visible. Each piece undergoes a firing that lasts for days, the exact outcome of which can never be fully predicted – making every tokkuri a genuine unique work. This tokkuri comes from Koken Hibata and is delivered in a wooden box signed by the master potter. It is excellent for warming and serving sake and, at the same time, is an impressive testament to traditional Japanese pottery.