Vintage Japanese Tsubo Stoneware Jar with Ash Drip Glaze, Late Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26J-0562-13

Vintage Japanese Tsubo Stoneware Jar with Ash Drip Glaze, Late Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26J-0562-13

A mingei-influenced studio tsubo with dramatic ash-drip glaze, presented in its original signed wooden box

A tsubo is a traditional Japanese ceramic jar or vessel form -- typically full-bodied and wide-mouthed -- used for storage, display, or flower arrangement. This handsome example follows that time-honored shape: a generous globular body swells outward from a modest foot ring and tapers to a wide, everted rim, giving the piece a grounded, confident presence. The surface treatment is the true highlight -- the upper shoulder is left in dark, iron-rich unglazed stoneware, while a pale silver-white ash-style glaze has been applied and allowed to drip freely down the body, pooling and blistering as it traveled, creating an entirely unrepeatable landscape of texture and tone. Fire marks and the rough, tactile foot ring speak to a traditional kiln firing process consistent with the mingei folk-craft movement that flourished through the Showa era. The piece is accompanied by a signed wooden presentation box (hakobako) with brushed inscription and a red seal, indicating a named kiln or artist attribution -- though the specific identity has not been independently verified.

In a modern home, this vintage Japanese ceramic vase is as versatile as it is striking. Its generous proportions and wide opening make it ideal as a statement flower vase on an entryway console or dining table, welcoming a loose arrangement of dried pampas grass, branches, or seasonal blooms in the wabi-sabi aesthetic. Displayed empty on a living room shelf or sideboard, it functions equally well as a sculptural accent piece -- its contrasting dark shoulder and silvery drip glaze drawing the eye and anchoring a Japandi-style vignette. Collectors of Japanese vintage ceramics will appreciate the hakobako provenance, which adds authenticity and makes this a distinctive gift for collectors or anyone who treasures handcrafted Japanese craft.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Iron-rich stoneware ceramic with ash-style drip glaze; unglazed shoulder and foot ring with natural fire marks
• Use: Decorative display vessel; suitable for flower arrangement (verify water-tightness before use as a flower vase)
• Modern Use: Statement flower vase for dried or fresh arrangements; sculptural living room or entryway accent; collector display piece with hakobako box
• Features: Globular ovoid tsubo form; dark unglazed upper shoulder contrasting with flowing silver-white drip glaze; heavily textured blistered glaze surface; rough unglazed foot ring with kiln fire marks; accompanied by signed wooden presentation box (hakobako) with brushed inscription and red seal
• Dimensions: 10"Diameter x 11"H
• Condition: Excellent

A rare and expressive piece of vintage Japanese ceramic art -- where the fire itself became the brush, and no two surfaces are the same.

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.