1960s Japanese flambe mini vases

These miniature vases seemed to be in every head shop and gift shop in Southern California during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The dramatic glazes lent themselves well to the tie-dyed psychedelia of the era.

The vases vary in size - the tallest is 4 1/2" (11.2 cm) tall, most are between 2" and 3" tall (5.5 - 7.5 cm) and the shapes seem very related to traditional Japanese pottery, just miniaturized. There is also a long history of flambe type glazes in Japanese pottery, so these are sort of a modern mass-produced updating of these traditions.

The vases are porcelain and are given a solid color base coat over which the multi-color flambe glaze is poured. Specific complimentary flambes were used for each base color. The base colors are purple, rose, green, blue, and brown - there may be others.

The only piece I have with a permanent mark has only a generic "Japan" mark. Several of the others have paper labels, also without any identifying information. I once saw one of these with an Asahi label but have been unable to make any connection so I have no good idea who made these vases. I'd bet someone is working on it.