Vintage Japanese Hand-Painted Lusterware Miniature Pitcher
Antique/Vintage Ceramics and Pottery

Vintage Japanese Hand-Painted Lusterware Miniature Pitcher

This is a miniature ceramic pitcher, approximately 2.5 inches in height, featuring a spherical body supported by a circular pedestal base. The piece is constructed from porcelain or fine earthenware with a distinctive lusterware finish, common in Mid-Twentieth Century Japanese exports. The color palette includes a cream-colored body contrasted with a metallic, iridescent blue luster glaze applied to the high-arched handle and the upper spout section. The central body is decorated with a hand-painted floral motif, showcasing a prominent orange-red rose and a yellow pansy-like flower, framed by green foliage and gold-tone leaf accents. A thin black line separates the blue luster band from the cream body, adding structural definition to the decorative scheme. Noteworthy is the spout design, which includes small perforations, suggesting it may have functioned as a novelty shaker or ornamental vessel. Regarding condition, the glaze appears intact with minor surface wear consistent with age, though the underside shows a 'Hand Painted Japan' backstamp in a characteristically red faded ink. The artisan quality is indicative of mass-produced Japanese giftware from the 1940s to 1950s, valued for its charming folk-art aesthetic and iridescent sheen.

Estimated Value

$15-25

Basic Information

Category

Antique/Vintage Ceramics and Pottery

Appraised On

January 21, 2026

Estimated Value

$15-25

Item Description

This is a miniature ceramic pitcher, approximately 2.5 inches in height, featuring a spherical body supported by a circular pedestal base. The piece is constructed from porcelain or fine earthenware with a distinctive lusterware finish, common in Mid-Twentieth Century Japanese exports. The color palette includes a cream-colored body contrasted with a metallic, iridescent blue luster glaze applied to the high-arched handle and the upper spout section. The central body is decorated with a hand-painted floral motif, showcasing a prominent orange-red rose and a yellow pansy-like flower, framed by green foliage and gold-tone leaf accents. A thin black line separates the blue luster band from the cream body, adding structural definition to the decorative scheme. Noteworthy is the spout design, which includes small perforations, suggesting it may have functioned as a novelty shaker or ornamental vessel. Regarding condition, the glaze appears intact with minor surface wear consistent with age, though the underside shows a 'Hand Painted Japan' backstamp in a characteristically red faded ink. The artisan quality is indicative of mass-produced Japanese giftware from the 1940s to 1950s, valued for its charming folk-art aesthetic and iridescent sheen.

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