Vintage item that has been previously repaired. A charming Tobe-yaki (砥部焼) dorei bell from Goshōen (五松園), featuring a softly rounded, elongated form with a stylized human face.
The piece is decorated in the classic Tobe palette of cobalt blue and iron red over a white ground, with flowing vertical lines that emphasize its elegant form. The simple painted face, with narrow eyes and a small red mouth, gives the bell a quiet, almost humorous character. A braided cord is attached at the top, together with the original label marked とべ焼 五松園.
Tobe ware (砥部焼) is a traditional ceramic from Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku, known for its sturdy white porcelain body and bold hand-painted decoration, especially in deep blue. While Tobe ware is best known for tableware, smaller folk objects such as bells and figurines also reflect the same distinctive regional aesthetic.
This piece has been previously repaired, and the visible repair gives it a strong sense of wabi-sabi, the Japanese appreciation of imperfection, age, use, and the quiet beauty found in objects that carry traces of time. Rather than hiding its history, the repair becomes part of the bell’s character and story.
A lovely collectible for admirers of Tobe ware, Japanese folk craft, dorei, and regional ceramics.
Size: 3.5 x 3.5 x 5cm
