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Up for sale is a fantastic collection of four LARGE vintage 1960s Japanese ceramic fish planters, each measuring approximately 9 inches long. These impressive, oversized mid-century pottery pieces feature beautifully sculpted freshwater game fish, including rainbow trout, largemouth bass, black bass, and a colorful Inarco bass.
Unlike the smaller windowsill fish planters commonly found today, these are the desirable larger statement-sized versions, originally popular as TV-top decorations, mantel displays, and console table accents during the mid-century era.
Each planter features vibrant hand-painted colors, glossy ceramic glazes, realistic molded scales, detailed fins, and beautifully sculpted wave bases.
Lot Details:
* Quantity: 4 Large Ceramic Fish Planters
* Size: Approximately 9 Inches Long
* Era: 1960s Mid-Century
* Country of Origin: Japan
* Material: Glazed Ceramic / Pottery
* Brands: Inarco, Lefton and Other Japanese Pottery Lines
* Type: Fish Planters / Decorative Vases
* Style: Mid-Century, TV-Top Decor, Fishing Lodge, Cabin and Lake House
* Theme: Freshwater Game Fish
Four Large Fish Planters Included:
1. Rainbow Trout Planter – Mold #4666
Beautifully detailed rainbow trout featuring a light green spotted body with realistic molded scales, fins, and colorful hand-painted accents.
The fish rests on a beautifully sculpted breaking wave base, creating an impressive display with wonderful movement and character.
2. Largemouth Bass Planter – Mold #675
Classic largemouth bass design featuring an expressive open mouth, detailed sculptural modeling, and an attractive muted olive-green glaze.
This piece retains its original red Lefton-style foil label on the bottom, adding to its vintage collectible appeal.
3. Inarco Bass Planter – Original Foil Label
A striking and colorful ceramic bass featuring a vibrant golden-yellow body resting on a bright aqua-blue sculpted wave base.
This planter retains its original black and gold “Inarco Japan” foil sticker, identifying its Japanese origin and maker.
The contrasting yellow and turquoise coloring makes this an especially eye-catching example of mid-century novelty pottery.
4. Black Bass / Perch Style Planter – Mold #1129
Beautifully sculpted green freshwater fish featuring distinctive dark vertical stripes, detailed fins, textured scales, and realistic body contours.
The bottom features a clearly stamped “BLACK BASS” marking, adding another wonderful identification detail to this collectible piece.
About These Large Mid-Century Planters:
During the 1950s and 1960s, Japanese ceramic fish planters became popular decorative accessories in American homes, particularly in fishing cabins, lake houses, rustic lodges, and mid-century interiors.
The larger approximately 9-inch versions were especially well suited for display on television consoles, fireplace mantels, shelves, and entryway tables.
These substantial pieces combine the appeal of vintage wildlife sculpture with the functionality of decorative planters.
Their vibrant colors, dimensional molded details, and classic Japanese pottery craftsmanship make them highly attractive display pieces even without plants.
Condition:
Good Vintage Condition.
All four planters retain beautiful, bright colors, glossy glaze finishes, and crisp high-relief molded details.
The exterior surfaces are generally clean and attractive, with normal manufacturing glaze pinholes and light shelf wear along the unglazed bottom rims.
The interior planting wells show some authentic signs of previous use, including light mineral deposits, dirt residue, and staining, as shown in the photographs.
The planters have been gently wiped down while preserving their original vintage character.
No large exterior chips are visible. Please review all photographs carefully for individual condition details.
A wonderful opportunity to acquire four LARGE vintage Japanese ceramic fish planters together in one impressive collection.
Perfect for collectors of Inarco and Lefton pottery, mid-century ceramics, fishing memorabilia, freshwater game fish decor, rustic cabin accessories, and vintage TV-top planters.
These colorful statement pieces would look fantastic displayed together in a lake house, fishing lodge, cabin, man cave, or mid-century tiki-inspired interior.
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