Tokkuri / "Ekaratsu" sake carafe Jinenbô

Karatsu-yaki "Tokkuri" sake carafe with plant motif made by Jinenbô Nakagawa (1953-2011) at the Jinenbô kiln in Genkaï, in Saga prefecture. Karatsu ceramics were born when Korean potters brought back to Japan by Hideyoshi Toyotomi during the battles of Bunroku and Keicho (1592-1598), began working under the protection of feudal lords. This ceramic is characterized by its coarse clay texture, called "sunamé", and its austere colors, which express simplicity, warmth and strength. It is also said that Karatsu-yaki is pottery that improves with use: in fact, Karatsu ceramics are a work of art that is completed when the food is served. One of the charms of Karatsu ceramics is that the more it is used, the more the clay changes color and the more it has fine cracks on the surface, called "Kannyu", which increases its taste and beauty. "Ekaratsu" is a type of Karatsu ceramic on which flowers, birds, plants and trees are painted with an iron sand glaze.