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Table Lamps - Japanese Tokkuri or Saké Bottle Lamps

Saké is a traditional Japanese liquor made from rice and water.  It is produced from a fermentation and filtration process.  Known in the west as “Saké” but in Japan as "Nihonshu”, Saké is a general term for alcohol.

 

The fermented Saké is initially a milky colour but is filtered by pressing through a mesh to produce a clear liquid.  The Japanese production of Saké is an ancient tradition with evidence as far back as the 3rd century B.C.  As with so many Japanese traditional practices, Saké has its own specialised ceramics.  The central shape being the Tokkuri or 

Saké bottle

These containers were developed into a ceramic art form and many were produced by small family potteries.  The majority were produced as earthenware specifically known to the Japanese as “stone textured”.  Very often the brewer ordered the Tokkuri from the potter, who then wrote the name of the brewer in Japanese characters or in flowing script as shown by our examples.

As today, when the customer returned the empty Tokkuri to the brewer, he received a rebate on the refill!  The Tokkuri were constantly recycled and used for oil, lamp oil, vinegar and for a wide range of domestic uses.  In keeping with this tradition, The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co have recycled the Tokkuri now seen on their site as table lamps, robust and full of character.

Saké is normally consumed cold in the summer and warm in the winter.  Warming is today achieved by standing the now small porcelain Tokkuri in a container of hot water.  In earlier times the stone textured Tokkuri were also warmed in hot water but were commonly suspended over a low coal fire to heat the Saké.  The Japanese block print illustrated, circa 1820, shows this traditional method.

In the vast Japanese literary tradition, the Haiku or 16 syllable poem is found “in praise of the Tokkuri.

Two Tokkuri

The misty world

Seems to float

 

Anon

 and this haiku by Issa’s – 1824

Living alone

Just one Tokkuri

For drinking away the years

 

This haiku refers to an end of year drinking party, but in this house, (Issa’s), every day is new years eve!

The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co currently have 3 tokkuri table lamps.  Two are stone textured in the traditional “Rosuku” shape and one rather elegant smaller version of monochrome glazed earthenware.  These “robust and honest” lamps have a timeless ability to fit very comfortably into both the traditional and contemporary interior, being at home in either setting

The traditional wheel potted Tokkuri virtually disappeared after 1945 along with many typical Japanese domestic art and craft form

s.

 A 19th century Japanese stoneware sake bottle or "Tokkuri" as a table lamp.
The bold black characters, the name of the brewer

The table lamp on a turned & polished maple wood stand.    Early Meiji - Circa 1880    Overall height (including shade) 21"/53cm

The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co specialise in antique table lamp lighting with an on-line range of over 100 unique, antique and vintage lamps on view.

Lamps are shipped ready wired for the U.S, the U.K and Australia.

You are invited to visit their web site at www.antiquelampshop.com

© The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co 2009

About the Author

Maurice Robertson, principal of The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co , has had a lifetime’s association with antique porcelain and pottery. From an early age he recalls picking up tea cups, looking for the mark on the base, discerning the maker.
He has extended his ceramics expertise into the quality table lamps seen on the company’s site, he is well known to local and international interior designers who have included many of his table lamps in their projects and has also supplied items of national interest to the official Sydney residence of the Australian Prime Minister.

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