Nagasaki Prefecture Designated Intangible Cultural Property, 13th Generation Yokoishi Gagyu, Utsutsugawa-yaki, Pampas Grass Motif, Pure Water Carafe Set #194
Thirteenth Generation Yokoishi Gagyu (real name: Hiromi Yokoishi, 1925–2016) was the holder of the Nagasaki Prefectural Designated Intangible Cultural Property for Utsutsugawa-yaki. He was the restorer and grandmaster who revived Utsutsugawa-yaki—a legendary pottery that flourished for only about 50 years during the mid-Edo period before disappearing. Although Utsutsugawa-yaki was once praised as the "Treasure of the West," its techniques were lost for approximately 200 years. The Yokoishi family conducted exhaustive research over several generations, and it was the 13th generation who elevated its artistry to its absolute pinnacle. For his outstanding achievements, he was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. His works are housed in the Kyushu Ceramic Museum and the Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum, and have been frequently selected as gifts for imperial and royal families both in Japan and abroad. The Susuki (Japanese pampas grass) motif featured in this work is one of the most beautiful designs for showcasing the "Hakeme" (brushwork) technique, which lies at the heart of Utsutsugawa-yaki. Utsutsugawa-yaki is characterized by firing iron-rich brown pottery clay as thinly as porcelain. By quickly sweeping white slip across this thin surface, the artist expresses the delicate texture of pampas grass ears swaying in the night breeze. The divine skill unique to Gagyu Kiln lies in its ability to adhere clays with different shrinkage rates to an extremely thin form without peeling, while breathing life into the motif with a single, instantaneous stroke.
The Pure Water Carafe: Connecting Tranquility and Aroma Our shop redefines this traditional Tokkuri (sake bottle) and cup set as a "Pure Water Carafe & Chaser Cup" for enjoying rare single malt and vintage whiskies. The word "Pure" carries two meanings here. First, it refers to a vessel that holds the "pure drop" essential for dramatically releasing—or blooming—the complex layers of aroma in whiskey. Second, it signifies the visual and tactile experience where the thin, refreshing texture unique to Utsutsugawa-yaki makes the water used to reset the palate feel even purer. Just as the pampas grass depicted on the vessel sways in the wind, the whiskey in the glass also blossoms, its aroma vividly shimmering with the addition of a single drop of water. The contrast between the amber color of the whiskey, the dark brown base of Utsutsugawa-yaki, and the white brushwork creates an ultimate harmony on a quiet bar counter at night. Once vanished into the annals of history and revived across time, this "phantom pottery" is a fitting legacy. For whiskey that awakens after decades of slumber, the heritage of Utsutsugawa-yaki is a most worthy companion. This is a unique collection where traditional functional beauty and modern luxury intersect.
Artist's representative career: 1975 Certified as a holder of Nagasaki Prefectural Designated Intangible Cultural Property, 1982 Awarded the Japan Ceramic Society Award, 1987 Awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon, 1995 Awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.
Museum Collections: Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum, and others.
Period of production: 1990s–2000s (The peak mature period of the artist)
Condition: Very good (No chips, no cracks)
Accessories: Original signed wooden box (Tomobako)
Material: Ceramic (Utsutsugawa-yaki / Hakeme)
Dimensions: [Carafe] Height approx. 10.5 cm, Diameter approx. 7 cm; [Cup] Height approx. 5.0 cm, Mouth diameter approx. 3.7 cm
Note: Please note that all products provided by our store, even if in unused condition, are from vintage production periods and are listed as used. Items may show minor age-related wear; please confirm the condition before purchasing.
