The vase has the zodiac signs and related designs. However, they are the first six zodiac signs of the twelve zodiac signs are drawn in the six panels against a brocade background. They are drawn as if mouse, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake and the related designs should solve the mystery. Perhaps the other vase had horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, boar and related designs.

The master craftsmen in the Meiji period painted various designs that meant prosperity of descendants, prosperity of houses, and longevity, or old stories etc. based on parables, and it is thought that the zodiac was often used as one of such motifs.

size: caliber about 4.2 cm, body diameter about 7.8 cm, height about 17.6 cm

First of all, regarding “mouse and rice bales”, mouse are prolific creatures, so it means prosperity of offspring, and rice bales are lucky charms to celebrate the abundance of grains. So both means they are auspicious in combination.

Regarding “rabbit and full moon”, two rabbits looking up at the full moon are drawn. Like the legend in “Konjaku Stories” talked about the moon and rabbits, or since the legend that rabbits might live on the moon were handed down, it seems that this combination was made from ancient times.

Regarding “ox and plum”, the ox recalls the shrine Tenmangu, which enshrines Sugawara Michizane, who was famous for plum lovers and exiled to the shrine far from Kyoto. Furthermore, since Sugawara Michizane　was worshiped as the god of learning, it is thought that craftsmen prayed for the improvement of their skills. At the same time, it seems to be related to the legend that the Kaga Maeda family was believed to be the descendant of Sugawara Michizane.

Regarding “snake and chrysanthemum”, since the festival of Hina festibal (May 3rd) was for girls, the festival of Cho-yo (September 9th) became one of the five festivals as an adult festival. In response to the practice, the adult festival was also called “Chrysanthemum Festival” according to the season when the chrysanthemums bloomed. It is probable that this design was drawn from the custom of drinking chrysanthemum-sake at that time.

Regarding “ox and plum”, the ox recalls the shrine Tenmangu, which enshrines Sugawara Michizane, who was famous for plum lovers and exiled to the shrine far from Kyoto. Furthermore, since Sugawara Michizane　was worshiped as the god of learning, it is thought that craftsmen prayed for the improvement of their skills. At the same time, it seems to be related to the legend that the Kaga Maeda family was believed to be the descendant of Sugawara Michizane.

Regarding “snake and chrysanthemum”, since the festival of Hina festibal (May 3rd) was for girls, the festival of Cho-yo (September 9th) became one of the five festivals as an adult festival. In response to the practice, the adult festival was also called “Chrysanthemum Festival” according to the season when the chrysanthemums bloomed. It is probable that this design was drawn from the custom of drinking chrysanthemum-sake at that time.

The back name is written as “九谷kutani / 三布堂Mino-do”. “Mino-do” is the store name of Kasama Shuseki.

creator of the work

Kasama Shuseki　笠間 秀石  unknown year of birth, died in 1895

Kasama Shuseki was born as a child of Ecchu-ya Heikichi (1790-1856), who was the foreman of the Minzan kiln, and is said that he learned the technique of red painting from his father. After that, he was adopted by the Kasama family (details unknown).

He was a disciple of Kutani Shoza (九谷庄三) from around 1877 to around 1883, and he became known as Shoza’s high-ranking disciple, and was said to assist Shoza. After the death of Shoza in 1883, he returned to Kanazawa and started the porcelain painting business, creating many works of aka-e or brocade kutani. His works were highly evaluated, so it was said to be a master craftsman among the master craftsmen of Meiji kutani.

It is said that “三布mino” in “Mino-do” means to combine various cloths to make new ones, so it is believed that Kasama combined three styles (Shoza style, Minzan kiln style (red fine drawing) influenced by my father, and his own style of painting), and adopted “Mino” for the store name to express his strong willingness to create unique new painting style by combining these painting styles.