Used Vintage Matsuzaki Fukusaburo Bronze Flower Vase Showado Apple Shaped Tomobako
¥13,799 JPY
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【Product Description】
Product Overview
An elegant bronze flower vase designed by Matsuzaki Fukusaburō and produced by Shōwadō, complete with its original signed wooden box and original explanatory leaflet.
The vase features a graceful apple-shaped (henko) form with a slender cylindrical neck and a refined silver-gray bronze surface finished in a delicate crystalline nashiji (pear-skin) texture. Combining modern Japanese design with exceptional bronze casting craftsmanship, this work is both a functional flower vase and a fine example of twentieth-century Japanese metal art.
Product Details
This bronze flower vase was produced by Shōwadō from an original design by Matsuzaki Fukusaburō, one of Japan's leading industrial designers and metalwork artists of the Shōwa period.
The rounded body, reminiscent of an apple or flattened flask, is harmoniously balanced with a narrow cylindrical neck, creating a refined and timeless silhouette.
Its most distinctive feature is the finely textured nashiji surface, formed by countless irregular crystalline speckles across the bronze. The subtle silver-toned metallic sheen changes beautifully under different lighting conditions, highlighting the depth and elegance of the finish.
During the Shōwa period, bronze flower vases of this quality were widely selected as commemorative gifts, official presentation pieces, and corporate awards, reflecting the prestige of Japanese bronze craftsmanship.
The vase is accompanied by its original signed wooden box and original explanatory leaflet, further enhancing its authenticity and collector appeal.
Product Specifications
* Designer: Matsuzaki Fukusaburō
* Maker: Shōwadō
* Title: Bronze Flower Vase
* Type: Flower Vase
* Material: Bronze
* Technique: Cast bronze with nashiji (pear-skin) textured finish
* Era: Shōwa period (mid-20th century)
* Dimensions: Width: Approx. 6.7 in (17.0 cm) x Height: Approx. 6.3 in (16.0 cm)
* Weight: Approx. 2.6 lb (1.2 kg)
* Original Box: Included (Original Signed Wooden Box / Tomobako)
* Original Leaflet: Included
* Status: Pre-owned / Vintage
Condition Details
Pre-owned vintage condition. The vase is well preserved with only minor signs of age and storage. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.
About the Designer
Matsuzaki Fukusaburō (born October 18, 1901, Tokyo) was one of Japan's leading industrial designers and metalwork artists.
After graduating from the Department of Industrial Design at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts in 1926 and completing its postgraduate course in 1928, he joined the Craft Guidance Institute of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In 1936, he traveled throughout Europe to study traditional and modern industrial crafts.
In 1949, he was appointed Director of the Craft Guidance Institute under the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), where he played a significant role in the development of Japanese industrial design and craft education.
Matsuzaki was also highly active in the Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition). His bronze flower vase received the Special Prize at the 6th Nitten Exhibition in 1950. He subsequently exhibited without screening, became an invited exhibitor, served as a Nitten juror, and in 1958 became a full member of Nitten.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to Japanese industrial design and metal craftsmanship, he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class in 1973.
His bronze designs are admired for their harmonious proportions, refined elegance, and seamless balance between artistic beauty and practical function.
Background of the Product
Japanese bronze flower vases have long been appreciated for combining sculptural beauty with practical use. During the Shōwa period, finely crafted bronze vases such as this example were widely commissioned as commemorative gifts, presentation pieces, and official awards.
The elegant proportions, sophisticated bronze casting, and distinctive nashiji finish exemplify the high standards of Japanese metal craftsmanship and the modern design aesthetics promoted during the twentieth century.