BUDDHIST ALTAR VASE, Ko-Seto, ash-glazed with handles, Kamakura Period (1185–1333 CE)

A graceful presence that exudes tranquility. This ash-glazed Buddhist altar vase evokes a sense of the ancient Sue ware lineage.

Comprising three distinct sections—an elongated neck with a flared rim, a rounded body, and a pedestal base—this Buddhist altar vase was among the most frequently produced forms throughout the entire period of Ko-Seto. While this piece features dual handles at the neck, they are not decorative rings, and the body exhibits a gradual bulge from the upper to the lower section rather than a pronounced roundness. Its shape is inspired by Buddhist flower vases from the Song Dynasty.

As an excavation find, the interior of the vase retains solidified earth; however, this has been preserved in its original state due to its archaeological significance.