Vintage Japanese Bronze Kabocha-Form Flower Vase with Frog and Vine, Late Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26J-0523

Vintage Japanese Bronze Kabocha-Form Flower Vase with Frog and Vine, Late Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26J-0523

A cast bronze kabocha-form ikebana vase with frog and vine -- a miniature still life drawn straight from the Japanese garden.

A hana-bin (flower vase) in Japan is far more than a simple container -- it is a sculptural object intended to complement and elevate the art of floral arrangement. This charming example takes the form of a kabocha (Japanese pumpkin), its ribbed body rendered with lifelike naturalism in solid cast bronze. Rising from the crown is a hollow stem that serves as the flower-holding neck, encircled by cast vine tendrils, a veined leaf, and a small frog figure perched at the base of the stem -- a classic pairing in Japanese decorative bronzework, where the frog (kaeru) is a beloved symbol of good fortune and safe return. The overall surface carries a rich, layered patina of warm amber-brown and muted verdigris green, the kind of depth that only decades of natural oxidation can produce. This is precisely the quality collectors seek in vintage Japanese craft bronzes of the Showa era.

Today this piece works beautifully as a standalone decorative accent in virtually any room. Display it on a living room bookshelf or mantelpiece as a wabi-sabi aesthetic focal point, tuck a single dried stem or sprig of pampas grass into the hollow neck for an effortlessly Japandi style arrangement, or use it as a sculptural paperweight on a home office desk. Its compact footprint and rich autumnal coloring make it a unique housewarming gift or a memorable gift for Japanophiles who appreciate handcrafted Japanese bronzework with genuine age and character.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Cast bronze with natural verdigris and amber patina
• Use: Decorative flower vase or ikebana accessory; pumpkin-form body with hollow open stem neck for holding a single stem or small arrangement
• Modern Use: Living room decorative accent or bookshelf sculpture; Japandi-style dried-flower display; home office desk ornament or paperweight
• Features: Ribbed kabocha pumpkin-form body; hollow stem neck with open top; cast vine tendrils and veined leaf detail; small cast frog figure at stem base; rich two-tone bronze patina throughout
• Dimensions: 5 1/2"Diameter x 6 1/2"H
• Condition: Excellent

A beautifully detailed piece of vintage Japanese decorative bronze -- where the quiet poetry of the garden is captured forever in metal.

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.