Kutani ware Vase with Wooden Box - Nakamura Toshito - Cranes in Snow / 九谷焼 花瓶

This exceptional porcelain vase by renowned Kutani ware artist Nakamura Toshito (born 1941) captures the quiet strength and elegance of enduring love. A pair of red-crowned cranes—symbols of longevity and fidelity in Japanese culture—gracefully move through a flurry of snow, rendered with exquisite detail and poetic sensitivity. Their presence evokes a deep sense of stillness, harmony, and resilience.

The softly layered bluish-grey background is achieved through Nakamura’s signature furi technique, where fine pigment is delicately sifted through mesh and brushed in layers to create subtle, atmospheric gradations. This meticulous process gives the surface a tranquil, wintry tone—evoking the hush of falling snow and the expanse of a cold sky.

The cranes are carefully composed to express emotional balance: one bird extends its neck upward, poised and reaching, while the other gently bows, offering a moment of stillness. This gentle contrast reflects the nature of long-lasting companionship—a graceful dance between movement and rest, independence and connection.

Steeped in symbolism, cranes (tsuru) are revered in Japan as auspicious creatures believed to live for a thousand years. As they mate for life, they are often associated with loyalty, harmony, and enduring affection. This vase, therefore, becomes more than a decorative piece—it is a meditation on love that weathers all seasons.

As the whole piece is handmade in Japan, slight irregularities in size, glaze, colour and texture might occur and reflect the nature of the artisan product.

■ What's included? One (1) Vase in a Gift Box

■ Made In Japan, Ishikawa prefecture

■ Size (Vase):  18.5 cm x 6.5 cm x 21 cm Height

■ Material: Ceramic

🎁 Comes with a wooden gift box. Great as a gift!