Edition #13: Ceramic Wall Pockets
“It has pockets!” applies to home decor, too.
Wall pockets are truly just like normal pockets: a delightful surprise that will be immediately pointed out to anyone that is interested. Mostly made from ceramic (but sometimes seen in glass or metal), these containers were elaborately decorated to be hung on the wall. Wall pockets would hold plants (real or fake) or flowers mostly, but some were made to hold matches or even a pair of scissors. They added dimension to gallery walls, entryways, and more starting in the Victorian era, becoming a popular import from Europe and Japan in the early part of the century. While researching, I found a plethora of categories and styles, so if you’re thinking a wall pocket is not part of your decor story, I will try to prove you wrong. This was the deepest rabbit hole I’ve gone down in a while.
Sadler Art Deco Pair of Pale Mint Iridescent Lustre Wall Pockets, British, 1940s on Etsy: These sconce-like wall pockets can probably even be used as a sconce. Just chuck a strip of battery-operated LEDs and you’re good to go.
Hand Painted Lusterware Porcelain Wall Pocket Vase. Artist Signed. Beautiful Iris Floral Design. on Etsy: Another iridescent example (aka lustreware) with this imported Japanese wall vase. It’s the perfect size for a Trader Joe’s bouquet!
Vintage White and Blue Ceramic Wall Basket Planter- Vase- Wall Pocket- Made in Japan on Etsy: I found a lot of these “basket” like wall pockets, including one that looked like a tackle box (tackle…basket?). This one is simple but bright and very modern looking for a ceramic wall pocket.
Vintage Brownstone Wall Pocket Japan Matches/vase/pens 8” on eBay: Some of these were labeled with San Francisco but the dark brown of this example is Brooklyn, to me. Very self-aware to suggest putting a vape in this.
Vintage Handmade Ceramic 3D Detailed Red Rose Flower Wall Pocket Vase on eBay: This is gaudy in all the right ways. The paint details are actually perfect, with the speckled inner petals and stigma.
Vintage Ceramic Brown Shell Wall Pocket Japan, Seashell Decor, Vintage Wall Pocket on Etsy: Shell decor can very, very easily go Beach House but this one feels too realistic and weird for butter colored walls and postage stamp patterned couches.
Delightful Vintage French Brown Orange And Beige Cicada Fly Wall Pocket on Etsy: I almost bought this guy while researching (there are actually many of these available). Some come painted less-realistic, with flowers or even olive branches on its wings.
Vintage Ceramic Telephone Wall Pocket on Etsy: No one uses landlines anymore, so why not get a ceramic version of one and stick a plant in it or something?
Vintage, Moth, Dragonfly, majolica, wall pocket on Etsy: I want to see this little guy hanging out on someone’s gallery wall. He can’t hold much, but put a fake IKEA plant in there and call it a day.
Rare Excellent Goebel Pair of 1930's Umbrella Wall Pockets on Etsy: I have closed this tab a couple of times after finding another option, but these are just so good. Most of the umbrella pockets I found didn’t feel as detailed or as realistic as these.
Honorable Mentions:
Lobsters (that’d go perfectly with these crustacean plates)
Hand (sorry, I bought this heh)
What terms were searched:
Ceramic wall pocket
Wall vase
Welcome to Finder’s Keepers
This is the newsletter dedicated to leaving no vintage stone unturned. Each edition will cater to a rabbit hole that I fell down one night and include an assortment of vintage finds that make you question “Why did anyone own this?” followed quickly by “Should I own this?”
My method is simple: I attach a keyword or phrase to the item and go digging, spending hours each week combing through hundreds of pages of Etsy and Ebay bric-a-brac. It’s chaotic but satisfactory, like looking through every rack and bin at a thrift store for those that partake in the more visceral act of going in person. I like to sit on my couch.