Maker: Kihara
Region: Nagasaki
Open edition
Semi-customisable
Edited by ANF
Spec sheet and information (PDF)
デザイン：バティスト・メニエル
素材：磁器、わら
製作：株式会社キハラ
産地：長崎県波佐見町
オープンエディション
一部カスタマイズ可
ANF エディション
プロジェクト概要 (日本語 PDF)
Design Baptiste Meyniel
Compra Vase
Commissioned by ANF, French designer Baptiste Meyniel used historic Konpura bottles as a reference for the modular Compra Vase. Designed to accommodate both European-style and Japanese-style flower arrangements, the piece can be wall-mounted or made portable through rice-straw weavings inspired by traditional porcelain packaging.
Unlike nearby Arita, where kilns historically specialised in highly refined white porcelain, often elaborately decorated for export markets, Hasami developed a more utilitarian production culture. Its kilns focused on everyday wares designed for durability, efficiency, and large-scale distribution.
To reduce costs and stabilise production, Hasami workshops commonly produced their own semi-porcelain, known as hanjiki: a body made by blending porcelain stone with a higher proportion of clay than standard porcelain. This composition results in a material that is less white and less translucent. What began as a pragmatic choice gradually shaped the material identity of Hasami ceramics.
Through research in historic archives, ANF identified that porcelain wares were traditionally packaged using specific rice-straw bindings, a practice that largely disappeared with the introduction of plastic wrapping. In collaboration with straw artisans committed to revitalising this tradition, Baptiste Meyniel developed a contemporary binding system that complements the vase’s use, facilitating transport and wall mounting while extending its modular function.
Redefining the historic silhouette of Konpura bottles into an elegant, contemporary form, Baptiste Meyniel developed a slightly larger format, giving the piece greater presence while combining clear-cut and subtly rounded lines.
The design is composed of two elements: a large cylindrical base topped by a straighter, funnel-shaped upper part that can be used on either side. This configuration multiplies the object’s possible uses, echoing the way Konpura bottles historically served to transport various liquid goods. The removable top also allows for future variations in form or glaze, extending the system over time.
Rather than prescribing a single function, Compra Vase encourages tactile engagement. It supports multiple modes of use and accommodates different scales of flower arrangements, from larger compositions to more contained arrangements.
This project marks the beginning of a broader collaboration between ANF, Baptiste Meyniel, and porcelain artisans in Hasami, aiming to bring under-documented practices into focus and to contribute to a renewed sense of pride and recognition among local workshops.
Projects
Designer
New Yukinko
Pedestal Furniture
Luka Yasukawa
Baptiste Meyniel
In-house design