Vintage Japanese Mingei Inspired Pot

There are plenty of Japanese studio pots. There are far fewer that seem to have wandered out of a folktale.
 
Balancing on three splayed feet, with a looping handle arching over a ribbed body and an elongated pouring spout, this vessel sits somewhere between bird, watering can and sculpture. It's functional by design, but its real appeal is that it never quite settles on what it wants to be.
 
Made in Japan in the mid to late 20th century, it takes clear cues from the Mingei movement, where simple forms, honest craftsmanship and everyday usefulness carried more weight than ornament. The dark, ash-flecked surface and hand-built character give it warmth without ever feeling precious.
 
We've always been drawn to objects that make you look twice. Not because they're loud, but because they're slightly unexpected. This is one of those pieces—equally happy holding a single stem, sitting on a shelf, or quietly confusing anyone trying to work out exactly what they're looking at.
 
Condition: Excellent
Size: W 9cm x L 17cm x H 15cm