A Tokkuri or Sake Flask: Beautiful Patina

late nineteenth century
8" x 3" diameter, 20.25 cm x 7.5 cm diameter

This beautifully rustic vessel is a tokkuri or a traditional sake flask. The buff-colored glaze that coats the flask shows beautiful, textural imperfections that greatly enhance and elevate the humble beauty of this utilitarian object. 

The tokkuri is heavy in the hand as the walls of it are thick. It may have been made for use at an inn or restaurant as this one was found with several others that are similar in size, form and finish.

A simply beautiful object in good, used condition and one with so many potential uses in the home, the prime one being an object to indulge visual enjoyment.