Japanese Meiji Era Sumida Gawa Ceramic Vase/Vessel Inoue Ryosai (c.1900) LS#076

Antique Japanese Sumida Gawa Flat Flask Vase, Attributed to Inoue Ryosai (c. 1890–1920)

This unusual Sumida Gawa flat flask vase presents a charming figural composition: a central flute player in white robes, accompanied by two seated attendants in green and blue. A circular cutout in the upper section adds sculptural interest and frames a small roofed structure in relief.

Sumida Gawa pottery, named after the Sumida River area of Tokyo, developed a reputation for bold, narrative surfaces during Japan’s late Meiji to Taisho periods. These works drew on both folk traditions and the export market’s appetite for highly tactile and colorful ceramics. Attributed to Inoue Ryosai, this piece exemplifies the style’s creativity and its ability to merge form and storytelling into a single object.

Dimensions: H 12in, W 9.5in, D 4in