Japanese Sumida Gawa Sculptural Landscape Vase With Stag, Waterfall And Tree, Meiji–taishō Peri

A large Japanese Sumida Gawa pottery vase of tapered ovoid form, c. 1900–1920, modelled in high relief with a continuous sculptural landscape. The buff earthenware body is heavily worked with applied and hand-modelled decoration depicting a mountain gorge: a cascading waterfall rendered in white and cobalt-blue slip tumbling over a craggy cliff face, a gnarled tree with sponged green lichen-textured foliage rising at the side, and a standing stag or deer modelled almost in the round within the rocky recess. The cliff and rockwork are richly coloured in oxblood red and dark treacle-brown, the lower body left with the characteristic horizontally ribbed throwing rings under a russet-red wash.

The shoulder and neck are dressed in a thick flowing turquoise-green and black mottled flambé glaze pooling and dripping irregularly over the relief below, in the manner typical of Sumida workshop wares, the everted rim glazed in dark amber-brown. The interior and recessed base are glazed brown, the recessed foot showing the red-painted body with characteristic wear.

No visible maker's signature or seal located. The form, sculptural relief decoration, slip-trailed waterfall and flowing shoulder glaze are wholly consistent with Sumida Gawa workshop production of the late Meiji to Taishō period.

Dimensions: height 31 cm, width 17 cm, depth 19 cm. Weight 2762 g.

Condition: good antique condition, honest age-related wear consistent with period use. There appear to be some minor chips to the white porcelain slip of the waterfall stream near the figure of the stag, possibly as-made or minor losses; please examine the relevant photographs closely. Light overall wear and minor surface losses consistent with the heavily textured surface and the age of the piece. No major cracks or restoration apparent. Please carefully regard all photos as they make an integral part of the listing, and reach out if there are any questions.