Japanese Novelties …Floral Friday

Images are clickable.

It’s fun to stumble across porcelain novelty knick-knacks and pottery at garage sales or thrift shops.  This is a good time of the year to do so because many folks are in the middle of spring cleaning and decluttering.  I sort of declutter at this time of year, too.  I donate tchochkies and bring home different ones.

I’m a bit fussy about the doo dads I bring home.  Most of what appeals to me are vintage objects that were manufactured in Japan.  Before the influx of heavy resin objects, dime stores and souvenir shops stocked little novelties made in Japan.

There is such a variety of these dohickies that collectors will probably never tire of searching for more to fill their shelves and tabletops.

A person can categorize the porcelain conversation pieces. I have several that qualify as planters and flower pots. These items are almost as numerous as figurines.  I brought out three of my more recent finds because they are so whimsical.

Who can even guess what the light green “house” is supposed to depict?  Tiny critters that might be teddy bears, sit in front of a bird house or out house.  The crescent moon detail confuses me.  I smile whenever I see the little “house”.  I placed three stargazer lilies in the top to enhance the fantasy theme.

I laughed out loud when I first saw the little squirrel figure on the Otigari tree trunk vase. The red paint detail on its mouth is just plain bizarre. Long branches of small flowers placed into the two openings  complete the illusion of a little tree.

This 1981 Otigari depiction of a Victorian house appealed to me because of its association with San Francisco.  It has an ample well that can hold a medium-size plant or arrangement.  At first, I wanted to use a small tree. However, I decided to create a contemporary grouping instead.

Not only are vintage Japanese knick knacks whimsical and fun, they are usually very reasonably priced.  Go ahead and find one or two to enjoy.

Sayonara
The Blue Jay of Happiness likes this anonymous quotation, “People who have knick-knacks are people people. Some are even named Nick”.