This dorei (土鈴) clay bell features the elegant motif of kikyō 桔梗, the Japanese bellflower, a bloom long admired for its refined beauty and symbolic meaning.
The bell is formed in a softly rounded, upright shape with a smooth, matte glaze in a deep teal-green tone. Its surface is subtly carved with a raised kikyō design—delicate stems and star-shaped blossoms emerging in quiet relief. The understated carving harmonizes beautifully with the cool glaze, giving the piece a calm, contemplative presence. A vivid purple braided cord is threaded through the top, providing a striking contrast in color and allowing the bell to be hung as an ornament or amulet.
The kikyō flower symbolizes sincerity, unchanging love, and elegance. Associated with autumn and often appearing in classical poetry and family crests, the five-pointed star shape of the bloom carries both aesthetic and heraldic significance. As a dorei, the gentle sound produced within is believed to purify spaces and invite good fortune, while the flower motif reinforces themes of grace and steadfastness.
