Vintage Japanese Mizusashi Water Pot - Edo/Meiji Era (25D-180-2)

Vintage Japanese Mizusashi Water Pot (SKU 25D-180-2)

瀬戸耳阿水陌 mizusashi with rich iron-brown glaze and original tomobako storage box

This cylindrical vintage Japanese water pot is a handsome example of Seto-style tea ceramics, traditionally known as a 瀬戸耳付水指 (Seto mimi-tsuki mizusashi, “Seto water jar with ears”). The warm reddish-brown clay body is enveloped in a deep iron-rich glaze that pools to near-black, creating a mottled, almost lacquer-like surface that plays beautifully with light during the tea ceremony.

Small curled “ear” lugs on each side provide a sculptural accent while echoing classical forms from Momoyama and Edo-period Seto ware, reinterpreted here in a clean Edo aesthetic. The piece is fitted with a sleek black lid and comes housed in its original wooden tomobako, hand-inscribed on the front with the characters 瀬戸耳附水指, underscoring its purpose as a refined yet practical mizusashi for chanoyu or as a striking focal point in a contemporary interior.

• Origin: Seto, Japan
• Era: Edo period - Meiji Period
• Material: Stoneware with iron-rich glaze and lacquered or glazed ceramic lid
• Use: Mizusashi (fresh-water jar) for Japanese tea ceremony or decorative vessel
• Features: Traditional 瀬戸耳阿水陌 / 瀬戸耳付水指 form; cylindrical body with curled ear handles; mottled iron-brown to black glaze; matching dark lid with ring finial; original signed wooden tomobako storage box
• Dimensions: 7" Diameter x 8"H
• Condition: Excellent

A refined Seto mizusashi that brings authentic Edo/Meiji-era tea culture and quiet wabi-sabi presence to any collection.

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.