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Overview This exquisite trio of Mid-Century Japanese miniature decorative vessels offers a striking balance of texture, glaze, and relief sculpture. Featuring two deep amber-brown glazed urns and a central cream-tinted porcelain-ware vase, each piece showcases an intricately carved inset medallion depictive of traditional East Asian folk motifs. Designed with small lug handles and a tactile hammered reverse texture, this set is an exceptional choice for shelf styling, credenza accenting, or curating Japandi, Wabi-Sabi, and Mid-Century Modern interiors. Deep Cultural & Historical Background Crafted during Japan's Mid-Century Showa period export era, these vessels embody a fusion of traditional ceramic artistry and commercial decorative craft. The high-relief unglazed clay cartouches feature the matsu (pine tree), a revered symbol of longevity, steadfastness, and winter resilience, intertwined with traditional mountain hermitage architecture and guardian beast iconography. The fabrication process highlights a dual-textural contrast: the front reserves are hand-carved or press-molded in raw terracotta red and ochre clay, while the surrounding bodies are enveloped in a high-gloss, iron-rich tenmoku-style brown glaze and smooth ivory glaze. The reverse sides feature a hand-pitted tsuchime (hammered metalwork pattern) impression. Each vessel retains its authentic stamped maker mark on the unglazed foot ring. Condition & Surface Character All three vessels remain in excellent vintage condition with strong structural integrity. The glazed surfaces display deep color saturation, high gloss, and a fine lustrous sheen. The unglazed terracotta relief cartouches retain crisp structural details without smoothing or erosion. Minor micro-crazing is present on the underside of the central light vessel, consistent with age and glazed earthenware production. The bases remain intact with clear, visible stamped origins. Dimensions & Weight Flanking Amber Vases (Pair): Height: 4.5 inches Width/Diameter: 3.0 inches Central Cream Vase: Height: 3.8 inches Width/Diameter: 2.5 inches Weight Profile: Light to Moderate (Set total approx. 1.2 lbs)
