Antique Japanese Hyotan Double-Gourd Glass Bottle with Wire-Bail Closure, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0660

Antique Japanese Hyotan Double-Gourd Glass Bottle with Wire-Bail Closure, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0660

A rare double-gourd storage bottle in luminous aqua glass, retaining its original wire-bail closure -- a striking example of early Japanese glassmaking craft.

A hyotan bottle takes its name from the double-gourd (hyotan) form long celebrated in Japanese visual culture, and this antique example captures that silhouette with exceptional presence. Two rounded lobes -- a broad base globe and a slightly smaller upper sphere -- flow together at a narrow waist before rising to a short cylindrical neck. The glass carries a soft aqua-green tint produced naturally by trace minerals in the batch, and close inspection reveals scattered air bubbles, faint surface ripples, and a pronounced pontil scar on the base -- all hallmarks of early Japanese glassblowing production from the Showa period. The wire-bail closure, now attractively patinated with age, loops around the neck and secures a white stopper, completing a utilitarian design that was also visually refined. As Japanese antique glass from this era is increasingly sought by collectors worldwide, pieces in this condition and with this level of character are genuinely difficult to find.

Today this antique Japanese glass bottle makes a captivating living room accent or entryway decor statement. Display it on a windowsill where natural light passes through the aqua glass and casts a soft sea-green glow -- a ready-made wabi-sabi aesthetic moment. It also works beautifully as a bud vase for a single dried stem or branch, adding organic texture to a Japandi style shelf or sideboard. The sculptural double-gourd silhouette makes it a thoughtful housewarming gift or a standout piece for collectors of Japanese antique glass and early 20th-century craft objects.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: Mid Showa, approximately 1946-1965
• Material: Aqua-tinted blown glass with iron wire bail and white stopper
• Use: Liquid storage bottle with wire-bail closure
• Modern Use: Decorative bud vase; windowsill or shelf accent in Japandi or wabi-sabi interiors; unique gift for collectors of Japanese antique glass
• Features: Double-gourd (hyotan) form with two bulbous lobes; pale aqua-green tint with visible air bubbles and surface imperfections consistent with early blown glass; original wire-bail closure with aged patina; white stopper retained; pontil scar visible on base
• Dimensions: 5 1/2"W x 5 1/2"D x 14"H
• Condition: Excellent

A luminous piece of Japanese antique glass -- one century old and still full of light.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All antique items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.