Features
Made by the long-established Kyōto house Manjudō: this piece was carefully made by Manjudō, the noted Kyōto craft pottery shop. Manjudō is known for its fine Kyō ware technique, and its work is often chosen as a formal gift. The original wooden box with its seal and the accompanying leaflet vouch for its authentic artistic value.
A distinctive, rustic tiger-stripe design: the piece has a mellow earth-brown ground, with flowing dark brown stripes across the back for the tiger's markings. The raised line of the spine and the curl of the tail show how precisely the maker caught the form, giving a sense of strength held still.
Plain clay texture: the surface keeps a fine granular texture that gives the weight of history, like an excavated find. It is mellow to the touch and has the settled character of a genuine vintage piece, with a strongly Zen aesthetic.
Expression and humour in balance: the tiger's face is a little naive and its eyes are round, which gives this fierce animal an approachable warmth. That humour, particular to Japanese craft, adds a lasting charm to an otherwise dignified ornament.