Across two installments, this time and next, we will feature dinosaur pottery (ceramics, etc.). I had thought about covering this topic before, but

● I wasn't clear on the definition of "pottery."
● Most items lacked data on age, manufacturer, etc.
● They weren't displayed together, making them difficult to find.

These and other challenges arose, making me put it off due to the hassle. This time, I've still roughly categorized them by country of manufacture, but it's quite approximate. I believe more than half were purchased at Tokyu Hands or Harajuku Kiddyland during the great dinosaur merchandise explosion of 1990 (hereafter referred to as DGE. It was truly an explosion comparable to the Cambrian explosion. This was the year of the Great Dinosaur Exhibition in Makuhari, if my memory serves me correctly), but I have no definite proof. Furthermore, I can't distinguish them from ceramics, so quite a few resin items are mixed in. Therefore, while it lacks documentary value, I hope you enjoy the images.

Japan

Photo 1 Shigaraki ware by ceramist Yasuyo Kobayashi. A unique, hand-formed piece. Styraco, about 22cm.

Photo 2 A work by Takao Ito, a ceramist residing in Aichi. This is also hand-formed and palm-sized.

Photo 3 Echizen ware. Both were purchased in Katsuyama, and the one on the right, in particular, has an approval sticker from the "Dinosaur Expo Fukui 2000" executive committee.

Photo 4 I believe this is some type of pottery, but there's no data, so I don't know what kind. The doll eyes are a bit of a letdown. It's about 25cm. Probably from the DGE era.

Photo 5 Unusually, the box remains, revealing it was made by "SHOUEI" (top) and "NAGAYA SANGYO CO.LTD". A DGE item.

Photo 6 The "Fukushima National Sports Festival Commemorative Piggy Bank" that I lamented losing out on in a previous Yahoo! Auctions (Secret Collection Vol. 31). I successfully got it this time.

Photo 7 When placed in a fish tank and connected to an air pump, it blows bubbles from its mouth. Purchased from eBay in the US.

Photo 8 I still remember finding the three dinosaurs in the top row in the window of a local ceramics shop. I don't recall the others, but they are probably made in Japan.

Photo 9 A souvenir from the Seto ceramics market. I believe it's made in Japan, but no confirmation. It's about 15cm.

Photo 10 A Shigaraki ware T-Rex mosquito coil holder I recently acquired online. I tried to take a picture of the smoke billowing out, but it didn't show up. I even bought mosquito coils just for this...

Photo 11 Other items believed to be made in Japan. From left: lamp (DGE), wall hanging (DGE), doorstop (DGE), and the curry plate used in the "Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger" TV show, given as a viewer prize. Acquired on Yahoo! Auctions.

Photo 12 Their origin is unknown, but at least the black one is likely domestic.

Indonesia

Photo 13 Although originating in Indonesia, these were released as "Dinosaur Collection" by Miyazawa Models in 1993, the year of Jurassic Park, with Japanese explanations. They are about 1/40 scale.

Vietnam

Photo 14 An ornament by the entrance, also featured in Secret Collection Vol. 14. They say dog ornaments are bad for feng shui, but dinosaurs might be okay. My beloved cat, who was next to it last time, passed away peacefully at the end of last year at the age of 23. Rest in peace.

Thailand

Photo 15 This dinosaur, about 9cm tall with unmistakably dangerous-looking eyes, is apparently genuine museum merchandise from the Petrified Wood Museum.

China / Taiwan

Photo 16 Photo 17 The origin is purely speculative. Some items in Photo 16 have "Made in China" or "Taiwan" stickers, and others have a similar aesthetic, so... Most are DGE merchandise.

Peru

Photo 18 These items were quite popular during the DGE era. The stylization is a bit too much for my taste, but even so, I suppose I couldn't resist buying them back then.

Brazil

Photo 19 Acquired through a Sekaimon auction. These seem to be relatively popular in the US, occasionally appearing in auctions.

Finally, if I may be so bold

Photo 20 My self-made Psittacosaurus. I participated in a common pottery workshop course and made this. Considering I made it without looking at any references, I think it turned out pretty well.

*We also have a variety of ceramic sake bottles and sake cups, both Japanese and Western. Please see Secret Collection Vol. 52.

Next time, we'll cover the elegant Europe and realistic North America.