Antique Japanese Oribe Ware Vase Green Splash Glaze Coin Motif, Edo Period

DescriptionAn original Japanese Oribe ware vase dating to the Edo period, distinguished by its bold green splashed glaze, sculptural form, and expressive surface decoration.The vessel features a robust, rounded body rising from a short foot, flanked by two applied handles with elegant, scrolling forms. The surface is animated with Oribe’s signature aesthetic—an interplay of deep copper-green glaze cascading over a natural clay ground, contrasted with areas of exposed body and painted decoration.Prominently displayed on the front is a stylized coin motif, rendered in iron pigment beneath the glaze. This design evokes themes of wealth, prosperity, and good fortune, common symbolic elements in Japanese decorative arts. The spontaneous brushwork and asymmetrical glaze application are hallmarks of Oribe ceramics, reflecting the dynamic and innovative spirit of the Momoyama-to-Edo transition.The glaze pools and breaks organically across the surface, creating rich tonal variation and textural depth. Subtle firing marks and irregularities enhance the authenticity and individuality of the piece, embodying the wabi-sabi philosophy—beauty in imperfection and natural process. Has old kitsugi repair the the rim.The form, with its slightly flared lip and balanced proportions, suggests use as both a functional vessel and a display object, possibly within a tea or decorative context.Oribe ware (織部) originates from the Mino region of central Japan (modern-day Gifu Prefecture) and represents one of the most innovative developments in Japanese ceramics during the late Momoyama to early Edo periods. Named after the influential tea master Furuta Oribe (1544–1615), this style reflects a shift toward bold, expressive aesthetics within the tea ceremony. Characterized by its distinctive copper-green glaze, asymmetrical forms, and spontaneous brushwork, Oribe ware embraces irregularity and artistic freedom, embodying a departure from earlier, more restrained traditions. Its dynamic surfaces and natural imperfections align with the broader Japanese appreciation for beauty found in impermanenceProvenance: From the personal collection of Frederic Cheever Torrey (1864-1935),partner of Vickery, Atkins & Torrey, interior design firm and art gallery founded in San Francisco in 1888.The gallery, most famous for its role in helping to introduce California to Impressionism, also offered fine works of Asian porcelain and Japanese woodblock prints. The location moved from several places in San Francisco and settled at 236 Post Street (now called Maiden Lane) when the 1906 earthquake hit. Though the resulting fire destroyed the gallery, Henry Atkins and gallery employees were able to rescue 3 wagon loads of art. In time, the partners opened a sweeping multi-leveled gallery in their permanent location at 550 Sutter Street.Frederic Torrey was the expert collector behind the gallery’s opulent array of Asian art in addition to oil paintings , prints and photographs. His home on Canyon Rd in Berkeley is now simply called Torrey House and was the location of his personal collection which included, most famously, Marcel Duchamp’s “Nude Descending a Staircase”.An evaluation was done in the 1930’s by TZ Shiota, a prominent SF Tea Ceremony Dealer, when Frederic Torrey’s great grandchildren inherited the collection. The collection was stored in a trunk since his death in 1935.Edo Period, Circa 18th centuryDimensions: 3 3/4″ high x 3 1/4″