Lot 207: Vintage Japanese Bamboo-Wrapped Pottery Vase

Description

This small stoneware vase is encased in a loosely woven lattice of split bamboo or rattan, gathered into a pair of loop "handles" at the shoulder — a decorative wrapping technique long associated with Japanese pottery workshops, most notably Awaji ware, whose potters combined thrown ceramic forms with hand-woven cane skins for both ornament and cushioned protection in transit. Pieces like this one became popular exports during the Meiji and early Showa Japonisme boom, when Western collectors prized the contrast of smooth glazed clay against rough, organic weaving. The pale, softly mottled body has a quiet, wabi-sabi character that reads beautifully on a shelf or in a small ikebana arrangement, and the irregular, hand-tied basketry gives every example a one-of-a-kind texture — no two weaving patterns are alike. Please note: no maker's mark is visible in the photos provided, so this is offered in the style of Japanese wrapped pottery rather than as a confirmed workshop attribution; if you can check the underside for an impressed mark, I can tighten this up.

Condition Report:

Good vintage condition, wear commensurate with age. The woven bamboo/rattan casing shows scattered breaks and frayed, lifting ends, with some strands loosened from their original snug position (visible throughout, especially at the base and shoulder). A small dark speck/inclusion is visible on the front of the ceramic body, likely a glaze fleck or firing mark rather than damage, but not confirmed. Portions of the stoneware body are obscured by the weaving and could not be fully inspected in these photos — no cracks or chips are visible in the areas that are exposed. Please supplement with an in-hand check before listing if possible.

Keywords:

Japanese pottery, Awaji ware style, rattan wrapped vase, bamboo wrapped ceramic, woven bamboo vase, Japonisme, wabi-sabi decor, ikebana vase, miniature Asian vase, hand-woven cane, vintage Japanese ceramics, Meiji era style, collectible pottery, Asian decorative arts

Dimensions: H: 3.5", W: 2.5", L: 1.5"