This spectacular Japanese hand-painted ceramic hanging planter, c. 1940s, I found in an antique shop in Jamesport, Missouri, on the day I decided to launch Critical Eye. I had never seen one of these planters before, and found it such a lovely and surprising thing... embodying endless treasures out in the world waiting to be found!  

One side of the planter features a large white crane set against a red sky and blue waves below, while the other features a couple of smaller cranes perched in a tree with branches that gracefully snake around the planter's perimeter.

I think it would look fabulous filled wth succulents or a mother of pearl plant, but is also simply stunning on its own. Cutouts at the top of both sides of the planter allow for stringing it to hang. It could also be hung directly from a hook, bracket or dowel.

9ʺ w × 3ʺd × 9ʺh. Stamped, twice, "Made in Japan". In very good overall condition, with a few small hairline cracks around the neck of the crane on side 1 and one scrape to the surface of the lower section of the planter on side 2, as documented in photos.