Vintage Japanese Usagi Rabbit Brazier, 1966 - 1989 (Late Showa) | SKU: 26M-704

Japanese Usagi Hibachi Brazier | Decorative Planter & Living Room Accent, 1966-1989 (Late Showa), SKU 26M-704

A hand-formed pottery rabbit brazier -- a rare and charming example of Japanese folk ceramic craft from the Late Showa period.

A hibachi is a traditional Japanese brazier used to hold burning charcoal for heating a room or warming hands during the cold months. This exceptional piece takes the form of a crouching usagi -- a rabbit -- modeled with quiet, sculptural confidence. The body is hollow, with a wide oval opening arched between the ears that once admitted charcoal or embers, while the unglazed interior retains traces of use. The exterior is covered in a richly mottled brown glaze that pools and breaks across the surface in amber, rust, and deep chocolate tones, achieving the unpredictable beauty prized in Japanese folk pottery. Subtle modeled details -- a rounded eye, tucked paws, folded ears lying flat against the back -- give the rabbit a calm, settled presence fully in keeping with the wabi-sabi aesthetic. Pieces of this type were produced during the Late Showa era as both functional household items and decorative folk objects, bridging the line between craft and sculpture.

Today this usagi hibachi makes a wonderfully distinctive living room accent or shelf display piece -- its earthy tones and organic form sitting beautifully alongside Japandi style interiors, wabi-sabi home decor, and mid-century modern ceramics collections. Lined with a small pot, it can serve as a compact planter for succulents or trailing greenery on a windowsill or entryway console. It also works as a unique desk organizer for pens, small tools, or rolled items, and its sculptural silhouette makes it an ideal gift for collectors or a memorable housewarming gift for anyone who loves handcrafted Japanese antiques. The rabbit is an auspicious symbol in Japanese culture, associated with good fortune, the moon, and longevity -- adding a layer of meaning that goes well beyond its function.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Glazed stoneware pottery; mottled brown and amber glaze over hand-formed clay body
• Use: Hibachi -- a small charcoal brazier used for room heating; also a decorative folk ceramic object
• Modern Use: Decorative living room or shelf accent; compact planter for succulents or small greenery; desk organizer or gift for collectors
• Features: Fully sculpted crouching rabbit (usagi) form; large oval opening between flattened ears; richly mottled rust, amber, and chocolate brown glaze with natural variation; modeled eye and paw details; hollow interior with darkened unglazed finish consistent with use as a brazier
• Dimensions: 9"W x 11"D x 8"H
• Condition: Excellent

A one-of-a-kind piece of handcrafted Japanese antique pottery -- where folk function meets sculptural charm, and an ancient symbol of good fortune finds a welcome home in any modern 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 and 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.