Lot 39: A Collection of Three Marutomoware Ceramic Novelty Items, Japan, mid-20th Century Category: Ceramics

A charming group of three vintage Japanese export ceramic items, characteristic of the “cottage ware” style produced for the international market. The collection includes a beehive-form lidded honey jar featuring a relief-moulded bee finial and floral sprays; a small decorative dish with an attached polychrome bird figurine; and a shaker modelled in the form of a masonry tower with climbing vine accents. Each piece is executed in slip-cast ceramic with vibrant hand-painted polychrome glazes and relief-moulded details. The bases of the honey jar and the bird dish bear the Marutomoware circular “T” mark, “Made in Japan”, and Japanese patent numbers (including Pat. No. 85335). Honey jar height: approx. 11 cm. Bird dish diameter: approx. 10 cm. Shaker height: approx. 6 cm.