Vintage Japanese Ceramic Tokkuri 26cm – Konomura & Ishikawa Saketen – Showa Era

📐 Specifications

• Period: Shōwa (probably mid-20th century)
• Material: Ceramic
• Dimensions: Height 26 cm
• Weight: 1.6 kg
• Condition: Good overall condition (some signs of wear on the base, see photos)
• Origin: Japan, found in Nara prefecture.

This ceramic tokkuri comes from a small shop or local brewery from the Shōwa period, as indicated by the hand-painted inscriptions.

One can read 古野村 (Konomura) – an evocative place name, "the village of ancient plains," suggesting a rural, simple origin rooted in deep Japan. It also bears the inscription 石川酒店 (Ishikawa Saketen) likely referring to the sake shop that used this jar to serve its customers.

The calligraphy, sometimes clear, sometimes cursive, reflects an expressive artisanal gesture, typical of the utilitarian yet elegant objects of the Shōwa era. This type of vessel, sometimes called binbō tokkuri – literally poor man's tokkuri – was commonly used in shops to transport sake in bulk, often poured directly into the customer's carafe.

More than a simple container, this jar carries with it a fragment of popular history, that of a Japan still artisanal, warm, made of small shops and local sakes with a strong identity.

🦝 Our opinion:

A superb decorative object, typical of Japanese folk art. Perfect as a vintage decorative item imbued with history, or to be repurposed as a vase with a wabi-sabi touch. Ideal for lovers of ancient Japan and traditional sake.