Vintage Japanese Stoneware Tsubo with Sgraffito Decoration, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26M-753-2

Vintage Japanese Stoneware Tsubo with Sgraffito Decoration, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26M-753-2

A squat, globe-form stoneware vessel wrapped in finely incised geometric and floral motifs -- a quiet masterpiece of mid-century Japanese craft.

A tsubo is a traditional Japanese ceramic jar or vessel, historically used to store water, sake, or grain, and later embraced as a purely decorative form by studio potters. This compact example -- likely wheel-thrown during the postwar creative revival of the Mid Showa era -- displays the confident hand of a skilled ceramicist. The rounded, onion-shaped body rises to a narrow collar opening, finished in a warm iron-red slip across the shoulder that transitions into a cooler, dark-grey stoneware body at the base. The entire midsection is covered in precisely incised sgraffito decoration: a repeating pattern of stylized rose-like spirals set within diamond lattice frames above, and bold leaf-vein chevrons below, all revealed in pale clay against the darker ground. This kind of incised surface work reflects the influence of the mingei folk-craft movement, which encouraged handcrafted Japanese ceramics that were both beautiful and rooted in everyday tradition.

In a modern home, this vintage Japanese stoneware vessel earns its place as a striking living room accent or shelf display piece. Its compact, sculptural form pairs naturally with dried botanicals, a single stem, or a small bundle of pampas grass as a bud vase -- making it ideal for Japandi style or wabi-sabi aesthetic interiors that prize quiet, textured beauty. Set it on a mantelpiece, entryway console, or bookshelf alongside other collected ceramics for an artful, layered display. Its warm earth tones also make it a wonderful housewarming gift or a thoughtful gift for collectors of vintage Japanese craft.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Stoneware with iron-red slip shoulder and sgraffito incised surface decoration
• Use: Decorative ceramic vessel; originally a tsubo-form storage or display jar
• Modern Use: Bud vase for dried or fresh stems; living room or entryway accent; collectible display piece in a curated ceramic grouping
• Features: Globe-form squat body with narrow collar opening; warm iron-red slip on upper shoulder contrasting dark stoneware base; all-over sgraffito incised pattern of geometric diamond lattice, stylized spiral rose motifs, and chevron leaf forms; crisp incised line work consistent throughout
• Dimensions: 7" Diameter x 5"H
• Condition: Excellent

A beautifully crafted piece of vintage Japanese stoneware that brings the warmth of mid-century mingei folk pottery into any modern living space.

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 vintage 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.