Vintage Japanese Tanuki Stoneware Lidded Jar, Showa 62 (1987) | SKU: 26J-0691

Vintage Japanese Tanuki Stoneware Lidded Jar, Showa 62 (1987) | SKU: 26J-0691

A boldly hand-sculpted stoneware jar bearing an expressive tanuki face -- a rare and earthy example of Japanese folk-inspired ceramic art, dated Showa 62 (1987) and preserved in its original wooden storage box.

A tanuki is the Japanese raccoon dog, one of the most beloved figures in Japanese folklore -- celebrated as a symbol of good fortune, mischief, and transformation. This squat, heavily hand-built stoneware jar embodies that spirit in ceramic form. The body is shaped and textured to suggest the tanuki's rounded form, with a boldly sculpted animal face applied in high relief to one side, its rough, unglazed dark clay surface contrasting dramatically with pooling green-blue ash-style glaze across the upper body. Applied ring ornaments and incised surface markings add further visual texture, while a woven cord carrying handle arches over the amber-glazed ceramic lid. The wooden tomobako (storage box) bears a brushed inscription consistent with Showa 62, 3rd month (March 1987), suggesting this piece was intentionally preserved as a collectible or gift item from the time of its creation. As a piece of vintage Japanese ceramic art, it represents the playful, wabi-sabi-inflected craft tradition that flourished among studio and folk potters during the late Showa era.

In a modern home, this characterful jar makes a striking living room accent or shelf display piece for anyone drawn to the wabi-sabi aesthetic or Japandi-style interiors. Its compact size and sculptural personality suit a bookshelf, entryway console, or curio cabinet equally well. The lidded form -- though best kept as a display piece given the condition of the lid flange -- could also serve as a small decorative vessel for dried botanicals or as a conversation-starting desk accent in a home office. It would make a unique gift for collectors of Japanese folk art, for Japanophiles, or for anyone who appreciates handcrafted Japanese ceramics with genuine character and provenance.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa) -- inscription consistent with Showa 62 (1987)
• Material: Hand-built stoneware ceramic with green-blue pooling ash-style glaze and partially unglazed dark clay body; amber-glazed ceramic lid; woven cord handle; sugi (cedar) wooden tomobako storage box
• Use: Decorative lidded jar with tanuki (raccoon dog) figural sculpture; likely intended as a collectible display piece or gift object
• Modern Use: Living room or shelf accent in wabi-sabi or Japandi-style decor; display vessel for dried botanicals or pebbles; curio cabinet centerpiece or unique gift for collectors of Japanese folk ceramics
• Features: Boldly sculpted tanuki face in high relief; pooling green-blue glaze on upper body with rough unglazed clay base; applied ring ornament and incised surface detail; woven arched carrying handle; amber-glazed knobbed lid (flange shows damage -- see condition note); original wooden tomobako box with brushed Showa-era inscription
• Dimensions: 7"W x 6 1/2"D x 5 1/2"H
• Condition: Good overall -- the ceramic body is intact with age-appropriate wear to the glaze surface; the lid flange is damaged (partially broken), affecting the fit of the lid; the tomobako storage box is present and intact. Sold as a display piece.

A one-of-a-kind piece of vintage Japanese ceramic folk art -- the tanuki's timeless good-luck spirit rendered in rough stoneware and pooling glaze, ready to bring warmth and folklore to any modern 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.