高山荘 華野の玄関前に鎮座するのは、漆芸家・赤木 明登氏による漆塗りの長椅子です。その上には、陶芸家・黒田 泰蔵氏の白磁の器を据え、なげいれの花を添えることで、華野が大切にしてきた「花と空間」の関係性を端的に表しています。

赤木 明登氏は、伝統的な漆芸の技法を基盤としながら、現代の生活空間に調和する作品を数多く手がけてきた作家です。国内外での展覧会や、美術館・ギャラリーでの展示を重ね、日本工芸の現在地を示す存在として高く評価されています。とりわけ、漆という素材の持つ奥行きと時間性を、静かな造形の中に宿らせる表現は、多くの支持を集めています。

館主がこの腰掛けと出会ったのは、同様の構成で花が生けられていた一枚の写真でした。その佇まいに強く心を惹かれ、撮影が行われた東京のギャラリーへ足を運び、迎え入れることを即座に決めたといいます。漆で塗られた腰掛けは、これまで目にしてきた漆作品とは異なり、重厚さと同時に、気品を併せ持っていました。

真白な白磁の花器、自然の姿を生かしたなげいれの花、そして深みのある漆の腰掛け。三者が互いを主張することなく響き合い、玄関という場をひとつの完成された景色へと導いています。この作品は、華野にとっての「添景」であり、訪れる人を静かに世界観へと誘う、最初の一歩なのです。

Standing at the entrance of Takayamaso Hanano is a lacquered bench created by the lacquer artist "Akito Akagi". Placed upon it is a white porcelain vessel by ceramic artist "Taizo Kuroda", holding a single "nageire" flower. Together, they succinctly express Hanano’s long-cherished relationship between flowers and space.

Akito Akagi is an artist who builds upon traditional lacquer techniques while creating works that harmonize seamlessly with contemporary living spaces. Through exhibitions in Japan and abroad, as well as presentations in museums and galleries, he has been widely recognized as a leading figure in modern Japanese craft. In particular, his ability to embed the depth and passage of time inherent in lacquer within quiet, restrained forms has earned him deep admiration.

The inn’s proprietor first encountered this bench through a photograph in which flowers were arranged in a similar composition. Deeply moved by its presence, he immediately traveled to the Tokyo gallery where the photograph had been taken and decided to acquire the piece. Unlike any lacquer works he had encountered before, the bench possessed both a profound weight and an unmistakable sense of elegance.

The pure white porcelain vessel, the naturally arranged *nageire* flower, and the richly toned lacquered bench resonate with one another without assertion, guiding the entrance space into a single, complete landscape. This work serves as a "scenic accent" for Hanano—an understated yet powerful presence that quietly invites visitors into its world as the very first step of their stay.