Vintage Japanese Celadon-Glazed Stoneware Tsubo with Hakobako, Late Showa (1966-1989) | SKU: 26J-0562-4

Vintage Japanese Celadon-Glazed Stoneware Tsubo with Hakobako, Late Showa (1966-1989) | SKU: 26J-0562-4

A large hand-thrown stoneware tsubo with dramatic brush-combed celadon glaze and crackle finish -- offered with its original inscribed wooden storage box (hakobako).

A tsubo is a traditional Japanese large-bodied ceramic vessel, historically used for storage, water carrying, or as a ceremonial display jar. This commanding example follows that same generous globular form -- a low, wide-shouldered body rising to a broad open mouth -- and carries all the hallmarks of mid-to-late Showa studio pottery at its most expressive. The entire exterior surface has been worked with dense, sweeping parallel brush-combed lines that radiate from shoulder to base, creating a texture that catches light dynamically and evokes the flowing movement of wind through grass. Over this carved surface, the potter applied a feldspathic celadon-toned glaze in muted olive-green, which has developed an extensive fine crackle network across the body -- a natural result of firing tension prized in Japanese ceramic aesthetics as evidence of authentic craft. Iron-oxide toning around the rim adds warmth and depth. The unglazed reddish-brown foot reveals kiln spur marks, confirming traditional kiln-fired production. The accompanying hakobako (wooden storage box) bears a brush-written inscription suggesting artist attribution, lending this piece the collectible weight of a named studio work.

In a modern home, this tsubo makes an immediate impact as a floor-level living room accent or entryway statement piece -- standing alone on a timber floor or low platform, it needs no arrangement to command attention. Its muted olive and cream palette pairs beautifully with Japandi style interiors, wabi-sabi aesthetic spaces, or any minimalist decor scheme that values organic texture over pattern. Filled with a single dramatic branch, tall dried grasses, or a loose ikebana arrangement, it becomes a focal point in a bedroom, hallway, or home office. It also works beautifully as an oversized decorative vessel on a covered outdoor terrace or in a garden studio. A distinctive gift for collectors of Japanese vintage ceramics or Japanophiles who appreciate handcrafted Japanese studio pottery.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Stoneware ceramic with celadon-toned feldspathic crackle glaze; brush-combed surface texture; unglazed reddish-brown foot with kiln spur marks
• Use: Decorative display vase; ikebana flower vessel
• Modern Use: Floor-level living room accent or entryway statement piece; ikebana or dried botanical arrangement vessel; oversized decorative object for Japandi or wabi-sabi interior schemes
• Features: Large globular tsubo form with wide open mouth; dense hand-applied brush-combed linear texture across entire body; fine crackle glaze network in olive-green tones with cream highlights; iron-oxide discoloration at rim adding natural warmth; unglazed foot with visible kiln spur marks; accompanied by inscribed wooden hakobako storage box suggesting artist attribution
• Dimensions: 11" Diameter x 12 1/2"H
• Condition: Excellent -- glaze crackle is intentional and period-authentic; some surface marks visible consistent with age and storage

A boldly crafted piece of vintage Japanese studio pottery that brings the texture, stillness, and quiet drama of the wabi-sabi aesthetic 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.