Does Anyone Know Who Made This Octopus Vase? (Signature is in Japanese)

[daintydorothydoll]

I have this 5-1/2" tall vase--looks handmade. It has a brown-glazed pottery octopus on the outside with two legs on the rim (the inside of the vase is glazed brown as well). The outside looks like sparkly white sand and concrete, and is studded with real seashells. It has been signed in red (I think it's Japanese).  I would like to find more of this artist's work.

[daintydorothydoll]

Oops...forgot the pictures...

[sonomabarn67]

If mine, I would look at Japanese sushi bars one off drinks cups as a start. Might be a limited edition custom offering.

[daintydorothydoll]

Thank you for that suggestion. I wondered if it might not have been made to hold a specialty drink. It is awfully heavy, though. I guess one would use a straw.

[janetpjohn_la]

I thought it was a student project. It just needs a little macaroni.
Janet

[sonomabarn67 · Accepted solution]

It looks like porcelain. I would put it more in the folk art (mingei) category.

[daintydorothydoll]

Thank you so much for your help. I was not familiar with the word "mingei," but I think you are right that that is the correct category for me to look for more of this kind of vase. I really like the little octopus.  🙂

[will.sf]

The characters in red say Shimoda Port (下田港), located in the Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimoda,_Shizuoka#Treaty_Port

[daintydorothydoll]

Wow...thank you very, very much for the info about the signature. You are awesome.