Crinkle Paper-Bag Vase in White by Makoto Komatsu
Crinkle Paper-Bag Vase in White by Makoto Komatsu
$120.00
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Crinkle Paper-Bag Vase in White by Makoto Komatsu — the humble paper bag, frozen in white porcelain by Makoto Komatsu.
Made by Ceramic Japan in Seto; part of MoMA’s permanent collection.
The Design Story
Seto has fired pottery for about a thousand years; the word “setomono” still means ceramics in Japanese. Ceramic Japan set up there in 1973 to pair that kiln know-how with contemporary designers, and one of its paper-bag vases went on to join MoMA’s permanent collection. Komatsu is a Tokyo-born ceramic designer and former Musashino Art University professor whose work has been shown from Ginza to Shanghai and Korea; he took the Exhibition Design Award at the first Mino International Ceramics Exhibition (1986).
Why You’ll Love It
Komatsu’s trick is simple and brilliant. He takes the most disposable object in the house, a paper bag, and makes it permanent: every crumple and fold is cast in matte white porcelain. It is a design joke that never wears thin, because the more you look, the more delicate the creases become. With a few stems in it, it feels as if someone just came back from the flower market.
Made for Real Life
It holds water like any vase and sits steady on a shelf or desk. Refresh the water often, rinse it by hand, and brush the creases now and then.
Product Details
| Designer | Makoto Komatsu for Ceramic Japan |
|---|---|
| Idea | A paper bag, crinkles and all, in porcelain |
| Medium | 10 × 6 × 14.5 cm (3.94 × 2.36 × 5.71 in) |
| Large | 14 × 8 × 19.5 cm (5.51 × 3.15 × 7.68 in) |
| Body | Matte white porcelain cast in plaster molds |
| Collection | MoMA, New York (permanent collection) |
| Origin | Made in Japan |
| Item no. | CJ-NSB-02 (M), CJ-NSB-01 (L) |
Where It Shines
On a desk, a kitchen windowsill or a bedside table, with a few short stems or a dried branch.
Questions We Hear Most
Why does a porcelain vase look like a paper bag?
That is the design: plaster molds capture the creases of real crumpled paper, and the porcelain keeps them forever.
What size is the paper-bag vase in centimetres?
Medium is about 10 × 6 × 14.5 cm; Large is about 14 × 8 × 19.5 cm.
Which museum collects this vase?
The Museum of Modern Art in New York holds the series in its permanent collection.
Can the paper-bag vase hold water?
Yes. It is porcelain throughout, so fresh flowers are fine.
Where does the paper-bag vase look best? (our styling advice)
On a desk or windowsill with a few short stems; in minimalist and Scandinavian rooms it adds wit without clutter.
Would the paper-bag vase make a good present?
Yes: it is witty, recognizable and works in any home.
For the Trade
Furnishing a restaurant, tea room, boutique hotel or a client’s home? Members of the LoftModern Trade Program (interior designers, architects, contractors, home stagers and commercial buyers) receive trade pricing, up to 20% off retail on eligible brands, with concierge help on stock and lead times. Apply once with your business details and we reply by email with your account.
Why We Love It
A museum piece you can actually fill with flowers.
Shipping Info
| Processing Time | In-stock items typically leave within 2–3 business days. |
|---|---|
| Ships From | United States |
| Delivery Cost | Free ground shipping within the 48 contiguous states on orders over $100 |
| Returns | Final sale. Arrived damaged, defective or wrong? Tell us within 2 days of delivery and we’ll replace, repair or refund it. |
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Phone: (866) 817-1878
Email: info@loftmodern.com
Address: LoftModern, a division of Modern Design Center, Inc., 337 N Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91764, USA
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