Golden Amber Flower Vase with Handle

This cylindrical flower vase is crafted from hinoki cypress and finished in the warm golden-amber tones characteristic of Hida Shunkei lacquerware. Rising high above the body, the slender arched handle gives the compact form a distinctive vertical profile, while the narrow wooden supports continue along either side.

Multiple coats of translucent suki-urushi lacquer reveal the natural grain beneath the glossy surface. The long, narrow elements of the handle show the wood to particular effect, their continuous lines drawing the eye upward and emphasizing the height of the piece.

Its tall, narrow form suits slender grasses and long-stemmed plants such as pampas grass, letting their natural lines extend above the arched handle. 

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.