Japanese Tsubo Storage Jar, Dark-Glazed Pottery, 1890s

This compact Japanese tsubo (storage jar) has a strong, restrained form: a wide, rounded body with a short neck and a thickened, slightly flared rim and dates to the Meiji period.

Dimensions: height 27 cm, diameter 18 cm.

The surface is finished with a deep glaze in dark olive to near-black brown tones, thinning in places to reveal subtle variations. The sheen is calm and timeworn, with the kind of depth often seen in traditional utilitarian pottery.

On the shoulder, just below the neck, there is a noticeable indentation that most closely resembles a firing mark (kiln scar): a contact point with a support or kiln furniture during firing. Such marks are common on functional wares and are an honest detail of the making process.

The underside looks genuinely old and authentically used, with patina and traces from throwing, firing, and decades of standing. With no maker’s mark, the exact origin (region/kiln) is difficult to confirm, but the form, surface, and finish align well with Japanese folk pottery from the late 19th to early 20th century.

Condition: good, honest condition with normal age-related wear. As an object it works beautifully in a minimalist interior, and it can also function perfectly as a simple vase.