Golden Amber Corner-Cut Flower Vase

This tall flower vase is defined by its sumikiri, or corner-cut, design, in which the four corners are cut away to create a more faceted profile. Made of hinoki cypress and finished in the golden-amber tones of Hida Shunkei lacquerware, its slender proportions give the traditional form a striking presence.

Two rectangular base panels accompany the vase, extending the composition outward. Placed beneath the vase, the panels are finished with multiple coats of translucent suki-urushi lacquer that reveal the wood grain running in different directions across each element.

The vase can hold a single flower or a taller branch arrangement, while its strong silhouette also gives it presence on its own. 

Fukuju Shikkiten

Founded in 1858, Fukuju Shikkiten is one of the longest-established makers of Hida Shunkei lacquerware in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture.

The craft was born in a region of abundant forests. While most lacquerware is finished in black or vermilion, Hida Shunkei uses clear lacquer to reveal the natural wood grain. The way each artisan applies the lacquer gives it a subtly different tone, making every piece unique. With use, each piece develops a deeper luster and settles naturally into the hand, becoming part of everyday life over the years.

Hida Shunkei Lacquerware

Hida Shunkei is a lacquerware craft from Takayama and the surrounding Hida region of Gifu Prefecture, an area long known for its woodworking tradition. For more than 400 years, artisans have coated dyed woods such as hinoki and sawara cypress as well as Japanese horse chestnut with clear lacquer, allowing the natural grain to remain visible through its deep, translucent luster. The longer a piece is used, the brighter and more lustrous the lacquer becomes, emphasizing the beauty of the wood even further. Hida Shunkei was designated a Traditional Craft by the Japanese government in 1975 and continues to evolve while preserving the techniques passed down through generations.