Vintage Japanese Hagi Ware Mizusashi (Fresh Water Jar), Heisei era, 1990-2018 | SKU: 26J-0746

Vintage Japanese Hagi Ware Mizusashi (Fresh Water Jar), Heisei era, 1990-2018 | SKU: 26J-0746

A luminous Hagi ware fresh water jar in soft ash-white glaze -- signed by the artist and sold with its original tomobako storage box.

A mizusashi is a lidded ceramic vessel used in Japanese tea ceremony (chado) to hold the fresh water that replenishes the iron kettle during a gathering. This example is attributed to Hagi-yaki, the celebrated stoneware tradition of Hagi city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, as confirmed by the tomobako inscription reading "Hagi-yaki Mizusashi" alongside the artist's signature. Hagi ware is prized by tea practitioners for its milky, softly crawling glazes and warm pinkish clay body -- qualities that embody the wabi-sabi aesthetic at the heart of chado. Here, the upper body is covered in a layered ash-white glaze that pools and crazes in an organic honeycomb-like texture, while the lower body carries a quieter celadon-toned ground incised with fine vertical combed lines. The squared-oval form tapers gently toward the base, and the flat fitted lid is centered by a compact loop knob -- all hallmarks of refined Japanese craft. A small impressed potter's seal is visible on the unglazed foot ring, which reveals the pale warm clay characteristic of Hagi ware.

Beyond the tea room, this mizusashi translates beautifully into contemporary living spaces. Its calm palette of grey, cream, and warm stone suits Japandi style and minimalist decor alike. Display it lidded on a living room shelf or entryway console as a sculptural accent, or remove the lid and use it as a bud vase for a single branch or dried stem arrangement. It also makes a distinctive bathroom organizer for cotton rounds or small toiletries, its quiet glaze surfaces bringing a spa-like serenity to the counter. For collectors and enthusiasts of Japanese ceramics, this is an exceptionally thoughtful gift for Japanophiles -- a signed, boxed piece of handcrafted Japanese tea ware with immediate visual presence.

• Origin: Japan -- Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture (Hagi-yaki)
• Era: 1990-2018 (Heisei)
• Material: Stoneware with layered ash-white crawling glaze over combed ground; pale warm clay body consistent with Hagi ware; fitted ceramic lid with loop knob
• Use: Mizusashi -- fresh water jar for Japanese tea ceremony (chado)
• Modern Use: Sculptural living room or entryway accent; bud vase for a single branch or dried stem; bathroom organizer for small toiletries
• Features: Squared-oval form tapering toward base; upper body in textured honeycomb-pattern ash-white glaze; lower body with fine vertical combed lines; flat fitted lid with loop knob; impressed potter's seal on foot; sold with original wooden tomobako box inscribed "Hagi-yaki Mizusashi" with artist signature
• Dimensions: 5 1/2"W x 5 1/2"D x 8"H
• Condition: Excellent

A signed and boxed piece of handcrafted Japanese ceramic art -- where the quiet beauty of Hagi ware and the spirit of wabi-sabi make every setting feel more considered.

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.