VASE, CEREMONIAL

Description: VASE, CERAMIC; GREEN; STORED IN WOODEN CONTAINER WITH HINGED LID. 1. VASE -- DIAMETER AT BASE: 9.5 CM; AT MOUTH: 3.5 CM; CIRCUMFERENCE AT MIDDLE (BELLY): 55.0 CM; AT NECK: 9.0 CM; THE VASE IS OVOID SHAPED WITH A BASE WIDER THAN THE BASE OF THE NECK. AROUND THE BELLY OF THE VASE ARE A FEW SLIGHT RIDGES, WHICH ARE MORE VISIBLE IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE DOCUMENTATION FILE. THE NECK IS 1.0 CM IN LENGTH WITH 1.0 CM WIDENING TO FORM THE MOUTH OF THE VASE. THERE ARE A FEW SMALL CHIPS IN THE RIM OF THE MOUTH. THE VASE GLAZE VARIES FROM LIGHT GREEN TO DARKER GREEN. THE BOTTOM OF THE BASE, WHERE THE VASE SITS, IS NOT GLAZED. THE CENTRE OF THE BASE IS THE INSIDE OF THE MOUTH IS GLAZED DARK GREEN. 2. CONTAINER -- DIMENSIONS: 28.5 X 28.5 X 48.8 CM. LID IS ATTACHED WITH TWO SMALL BRASS HINGES. THE PIN IS MISSING FROM ONE OF THE HINGES. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A PIECE OF WIDE. THE OTHER HINGE IS MISSING THE TOP TWO SCREWS THEREFORE IT IS NOT ATTACHED TO THE LID. THE LID IS LOCKED WITH A BRASS LATCH USED FOR A PADLOCK. NO PADLOCK IS ATTACHED. THE CONTAINER HAS A LEATHER HANDLE (62.0 X 1.0 X 0.5 CM), WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE MAIN PART OF THE CONTAINER WITH BRASS SCREW AND A WASHER. THE CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION USED NAILS.

History: THE FLOWER VASE WAS PRESENTED TO NIKKA YUKO JAPANESE GARDEN AT ITS OFFICIAL OPENING IN 1967 BY KUMAKURA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OF KYOTO, JAPAN, WHO BUILT THE PAVILION IN LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA. THE VASE WAS MADE BY ZENGORO EIRAKU, WHO IS THE 16TH LINEAL DESCENDENT OF THE EIRAKU FAMILY, ONE OF THE OLDEST FAMILIES OF CONTINUOUS POTTERS IN KYOTO CITY. THE MASTER, WHO MADE THE VASE, IS THE DIRECT DESCENDENT OF THE FOUNDER OF THE TEA CEREMONY. THIS CEREMONY BEGAN IN THE TEMPLE OF SATAI CITY (SUBURB OF OSAKA). DR. KUBO, THE DESIGNER OF THE NIKKA YUKO JAPANESE GARDEN, WORKED AT THE PERFECTURE UNIVERISITY OF OSAKA. FOR MANY CENTURIES, THEY HAVE BEEN PRODUCING TYPICAL AND TRADITIONAL TEA CEREMONIAL UTENSILS, SUCH AS FLOWER VASES, TEA BOWLS AND TEA KETTLES. THE "HAMMA-IRE" FLOWER VASE WAS MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR USE IN A TEA CEREMONY. A "HANNA-IRE" IS USUALLY MADE OF CHINA, BAMBOO OR METAL.