Ikebana - the Japanese art of flower arranging

However, we all agree on one thing - flower arrangements increase the well-being at home and enhance the room climate. In Europe, however, the stems of the flowers are hidden in opaque porcelain vases, yet they are part of the whole flower arrangement.

In Japan they have gone a different way. The islands are a country with a strong mountainous terrain and are extensively overgrown with various plants. Streams, rivers and lakes run through the country and create a unique aesthetic. Each season brings out its own unique beauty and influences the actions of the people differently. The desire of the people to enjoy the beauty of nature in their homes created the Ikebana (jap. 生け花 also いけばな). It is the art of flower arrangement, deeply rooted in the Japanese soul. Ikebana literally means "living flowers" and is also becoming increasingly popular in Europe.

The flower arrangement is an old, cultivated tradition and was at its time reserved exclusively for the men of the nobility. It simply belonged to the good manners of the aristocracy and was, like calligraphy and the tea ceremony, a part of education. Later, women were also allowed to practice Ikebana. The oldest Ikebana schools can be found in the cultural heart of Japan - Kyoto. Nowadays flower arranging is a compulsory subject at the school for Japanese girls. In the course of time, various styles have developed and evolved. But all agree on one thing: in Ikebana, vase, leaves and branches are looked at in the same way as the flowers themselves. Stylish individuality in arranging the flowers is as important as the handmade Ikebana vase itself. In meditative design, the designer expresses his or her feelings through the respective type of flower arrangement and what occupies him or her during the design process. The idea behind Ikebana is not unlike the European concept of flowers and the joy of viewing them. Ikebana is also about the feelings the viewer feels when looking at the flower arrangement. After all, it is about harmony and this harmony should be felt when looking at the flowers. Stylish aesthetics play as important a role as simple design. The basic form created from three branches or stems, the asymmetrical scale triangle, is the starting point for all flower arrangements.

After the development of Ikebana stagnated in Japan for centuries, Ohara Unshin took care of the situation. In 1897 he opened an Ikebana exhibition and introduced a new style. The Moribana style is the enchanting result of an identity crisis and in German means "piled up flowers". As Japan opened up to the rest of the world, the Japanese had to learn to harmonize the new influences with their tradition. Ikebana has also undergone this transformation and Moribana allows more artistic freedom than the classical Ikebana movements. At the same time as the new style, Kenzan, the Ikebana flower hedgehog, was introduced. With this it is much easier to arrange the flowers and also explains the translated name of Moribana - piled up flowers. The flower hedgehog is a lead plate with brass nails embedded in it. The nails keep the flowers in shape in a mountainous, piled up form. The respective flowers are placed on it and the lead foot holds the flower arrangement upright as a counterweight. However, the flowers are arranged in the classical way and not pinned. This explains the Ikebana's name, which is wrong in Europe - we say flower arrangement, but it is a flower arrangement. Moribana was a revolution for Ikebana and as a concession to the western world it stands for freedom, cosmopolitanism and peace. It is still the most popular form of flower arrangement today and has made it accessible to a broad section of the population. Because it is so open, it is easy to learn even for the layman and one quickly develops pleasure in it - provided one has the right material available.

In Ikebana, one always looks at the whole and enjoys the beauty of imperfect naturalness and harmony. The linear structure, rhythm and color of the flower arrangement form a unity that is in harmony with each other. The Ikebana Vase is the central element, because special demands are made on it. The vase is usually a square bowl. With its clear structure it supports the linear structure and gives structure to the flower arrangement. The handmade Ikebana Vase can be kept very flat so that the view of the flower water is not obstructed. The water as a mirror is as much a part of the whole as the handmade Ikebana Vase. Likewise, it must not lie on the ground like a board, it must convey an attractive lightness and fragile weightlessness.

Another requirement for this unique design element is color. Ikebana uses colorful flowers, leaves and twigs and the Ikebana vase must be colored to form a unity with the rest of the flower arrangement. As a result, white vases are usually made to fit into any living room. We at Keramik-Kartell.de take a different approach and produce unique and charming unique Ikebana vases far away from the generic mainstream. So the noble handmade Ikebana vases bring the regional and seasonal nature into your home.

To stay true to the Japanese tradition, we manufacture exclusive Ikebana vases using the Japanese raku technique to create refined raku ceramics. In this way, two old craftsmen combine to create something enchantingly unique.