Table Lamps - Japanese Tokkuri Or Sak Bottle Lamps

Sak is an old college Japanese liquor created from pasta and water. It is produced from a fermentation and filtration process. Known within the west as Sak but in Japan as Nihonshu, Sak is a general term for alcohol. The fermented Sak is initially a milky colour but is filtered by pressing through a mesh to make a clean liquid. The Japanese production of Sak is an ancient tradition with evidence as distant return as the 3rd century B.

As with so many Japanese traditional practices, Sak has its own specialised ceramics. The central shape being the Tokkuri or Sak bottle These containers were developed into a ceramic art shape and many were produced by tiny family potteries. The majority were produced as earthenware specifically known to the Japanese as stone textured. Very many times the brewer ordered the Tokkuri from the potter, who then wrote the name regarding 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 large section of domestic uses.

In keeping with this tradition, The Antique and amp; Vintage Table Lamp Co have recycled the Tokkuri now seen on their place as table lamps, robust and full of character. Sak is normally consumed cold within the summer and warm within the winter. Warming is currently achieved by standing the now tiny porcelain Tokkuri in a container of warm water. In earlier times the stone textured Tokkuri were also warmed in warm h2o but were commonly suspended over a little coal fire to heat the Sak. The Japanese block print illustrated, circa 1820, shows this traditional method.

Within the vast Japanese literary tradition, the Haiku or 16 syllable poem is located in praise regarding the Tokkuri. 3 Tokkuri The misty world Seems to float Anon and this haiku by Issa's 1824 Living alone Just one Tokkuri For drinking distant 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 and amp; Vintage Table Lamp Co currently have 4 tokkuri table lamps. 3 are stone textured within the traditional Rosuku shape and one rather elegant smaller version of monochrome glazed earthenware. These robust and honest lamps hold a timeless ability to fit very comfortably into most the traditional and contemporary interior, being at home in neither setting The traditional tyre potted Tokkuri virtually disappeared subsequent to 1945 along with many typical Japanese domestic art and craft shape s. A 19th century Japanese stoneware sake bottle or Tokkuri like a table lamp.

The bold black characters, the name regarding the brewer The table lamp on a turned and amp; polished maple wood stand. Early Meiji - Circa 1880 Overall height within shade 21 or 53cm The Antique and amp; Vintage Table Lamp Co specialise in antique table lamp lighting with an on-line section of over 100 unique, antique and vintage lamps on view. Lamps are shipped ready wired for the U. You can be invited to see their web place at The Antique and amp; Vintage Table Lamp Co 2009.