A sake flask fired in the early Edo period at the Yashichida kiln, known for producing “Yashichida Oribe,” the final and distinctive phase of Oribe ware. Unlike earlier Oribe, works from this kiln display a different aesthetic character. This example represents one of the kiln’s more popular forms, notable for its softened, gently rounded silhouette. The freely poured copper-green glaze, cascading across the surface like windblown currents, imparts a sense of lightness and spontaneity to the piece. It is 22.5 cm (9 inches) tall, 11 cm (4-1/2 inches) diameter and in excellent condition, enclosed in an old black lacquered wooden box titled Yashichida Oribe tokkuri.
Yashichida Oribe refers to the refined late Oribe ware produced in the early Edo period at the Yashichida kilns in present-day Kani City, Gifu Prefecture. Distinguished from earlier, more boldly glazed Oribe, these works are thinly potted and meticulously crafted, with the characteristic green copper glaze used sparingly. Their decoration features delicate red or brown lines and dots—sometimes combined with fluid, wind-like sweeps of copper-green—creating a distinctive visual idiom. While forms tend to be orderly and well proportioned, they often incorporate understated decorative accents. The Yashichida kilns are also noted for early celadon production in the Mino region, and the group of works produced there during the final phase of the Oribe tradition is collectively known as “Yashichida Oribe,” marking one of the most elegant and technically refined expressions of the style.
