Vintage Japanese Stoneware Tsubo/Mizusashi with Fitted Lid and Tomobako, Mid-Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26M-646-3

Vintage Japanese Stoneware Tsubo/Mizusashi with Fitted Lid and Tomobako, Mid-Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26M-646-3

A boldly glazed stoneware tsubo with dramatic green drip glaze and fitted lid -- offered with original signed wooden storage box.

A tsubo is a traditional Japanese rounded storage jar, one of the oldest ceramic forms in Japanese craft history, used for preserving food, fermenting miso and pickles, or storing tea. This handsome mid-Showa example is wheel-thrown from a coarse stoneware body and finished in a deep olive-green glaze -- known as oribe-style or ao-yu (green glaze) -- that pools and drips expressively down the shoulder and sides, leaving trails of warm amber and brown where the glaze thins. The fitted lid features a loop knob glazed in a rich amber-brown tenmoku, sitting snugly within a well-formed rim. The unglazed foot ring reveals a warm terracotta-toned stoneware clay. This is a fine example of handcrafted Japanese ceramics from the postwar studio tradition, and the accompanying signed wooden tomobako (storage box) indicates the piece was made by or attributed to a named artist.

In a modern home, this vintage Japanese tsubo makes a striking living room accent or entryway statement piece on its own -- its moody green glaze and organic silhouette suit a wabi-sabi aesthetic or Japandi style interior effortlessly. Display it on a bookshelf or sideboard to anchor a curated collection of vintage Japanese craft objects, or use it as a small planter for a trailing succulent or dried botanical arrangement. It also makes a distinctive gift for collectors or a thoughtful housewarming gift for anyone drawn to handmade ceramics and Japanese vintage culture.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Stoneware with olive-green drip glaze (ao-yu); amber-brown tenmoku glaze on lid knob; unglazed terracotta foot ring
• Use: Traditional Japanese storage and fermentation jar (tsubo); decorative ceramic vessel for the tokonoma alcove or display shelf
• Modern Use: Living room decorative accent or shelf display; small indoor planter for dried botanicals or succulents; unique gift for collectors of vintage Japanese ceramics
• Features: Rounded apple-form body with broad shoulders tapering to a narrow foot; fitted lid with loop knob; expressive drip glaze pattern varying from matte olive to glossy amber-brown; wheel-thrown with visible throwing marks on the interior; sold with original signed tomobako wooden box
• Dimensions: 6" Diameter x 7"H
• Condition: Excellent

A quietly commanding piece of vintage Japanese ceramics -- earthy, expressive, and deeply at home in any wabi-sabi or minimalist decor setting.

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.