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Seto porcelain vase with optical illusion of a hidden face, Japan, 1950
€145Bid from €90
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Product description
Expert report: Japanese anthropomorphic cottage vase. Identification: Prestige vase in the Japanese style, exported. Origin: Japan, Soto/Nagoya region.
Period: Showa era, 1950-1955
Dimensions: 20 cm, Weight: 452 g
1. Analysis of the structure and neck:
- Handmade piece
- The interior features horizontal striations in an accordion shape, evidence of the potter's handiwork.
- The lotus flower neck has a scalloped edge with wide indentations, hand-cut from fresh clay. The complex corolla shape is of high quality.
- Gilding: Gold thread applied with a brush to the edge of the neck.
2. Deciphering the decoration: Optical illusion
- The decoration uses the "marriage" technique to create a landscape with a double meaning.
- Hidden face (pareidolia)
- The highlights of the left eye are formed by the dark arch of the yellow garage with eyelashes and eyebrows, and the right eye is suggested by the window of the pink building, with the right eyebrow by the inverted "L" shape.
- The white relief lines define the face and hair; the door outlines the nose and wrinkles; the lines under the roof create the illusion.
- The atmosphere is a gradient of pastel shades—burgundy, pink, white, and gray—created with a hand-held airbrush to evoke a twilight.
3. Signature and Manufacture
- The handwritten signature is applied under the cover.
- The calligraphy is in the cursive Sosho style; the upper character is a variant of Sei (for announcement).
- The workshop bears the signature of an E-tsuke-shi (master decorator).
4. Conclusion
- This vase is a remarkable example of hidden-face pottery.
It is a unique collector's piece that reflects the humor and skill of post-war Japanese artisans.
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsMulti ColorMaterialPorcelainNumber of items1Height20 cmWidth13 cm
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EVERE, BelgiumOn Whoppah since March 2026 • 0 sales