Vintage Japanese Kazari-mono Ceramic Ornament, Late Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26J-0600-1

Vintage Japanese Kazari-mono Ceramic Ornament, Late Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26J-0600-1

A gold-ground celebratory ceramic keepsake adorned with kiku, butterfly motifs, and elaborate mizuhiki knotwork -- presented in a signed artist's wooden storage box.

A kazari-mono is a purely decorative Japanese ornamental object created for display on auspicious occasions such as weddings, New Year celebrations, or milestone gift-giving. This striking example from the Late Showa era takes a globular, flattened form in warm golden-yellow glazed ceramic, fitted with a lobed finial at the top and a shaped foot below -- a silhouette closely inspired by traditional celebratory vessel forms. One face features a large white roundel painted with a stylized butterfly and layered cloud motifs in soft pink, grey, and gold, evoking grace and good fortune. The opposite face and body carry all-over kiku (chrysanthemum) roundels rendered in tonal gold against the warm ground, while a vertical band of polychrome diamond-shaped kamon-style medallions in cobalt blue, red, and white provides a vivid focal point. The piece is wrapped with gold and silver mizuhiki -- the traditional Japanese art of decorative cord-knotting -- tied in an elaborate ceremonial knot, and accompanied by a long multicolor braided silk-and-cord tassel. The whole is stored in a fitted paulownia-style wooden box bearing a handwritten inscription and red artist seal, indicating it was produced by or associated with a named craftsman or studio.

Today, this vintage Japanese decorative ceramic makes an exceptional living room accent or tokonoma display object for collectors drawn to the wabi-sabi aesthetic and the refined beauty of Showa-era craft. Its compact scale -- small enough to sit on a bookshelf, mantelpiece, or entry console -- and its all-season gold palette make it an easy fit within Japandi style interiors. The ornate mizuhiki knotwork and the signed wooden box elevate it far beyond an ordinary decorative piece, making it a standout unique gift for Japanophiles, a wedding anniversary keepsake, or a sophisticated conversation piece for any curated home. Collectors of vintage Japanese craft and Japanese vintage decorative arts will appreciate the rarity of finding such a piece complete with its original box and cords fully intact.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Glazed ceramic (clay body); gold overglaze decoration; gold and silver mizuhiki metallic cord; multicolor braided silk cord; paulownia-style wooden storage box
• Use: Decorative auspicious ornament (kazari-mono); ceremonial or celebratory gift display piece
• Modern Use: Living room or tokonoma display accent; bookshelf or entryway decorative object; unique gift for collectors or Japanophiles
• Features: Globular flattened form with lobed finial and shaped foot; warm golden-yellow glaze ground; white roundel with painted butterfly and layered cloud motif; kiku roundels in tonal gold; polychrome diamond kamon-style band in cobalt, red, and white; elaborate gold and silver mizuhiki ceremonial knot; multicolor braided tassel cord; signed wooden storage box with red artist seal
• Dimensions: 4"W x 4"D x 6"H
• Condition: Excellent

A rare and complete Late Showa decorative ceramic keepsake -- a radiant piece of vintage Japanese craft that brings ceremonial elegance and golden warmth to any modern home.

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.