*SHIPPING OPTIONS VARY DEPENDING ON THE DESTINATION, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS LISTING FOR MORE DETAILS.

This listing is for a celadon glaze okimono made around 20 years ago and signed ‘Mihiro’. It is made from a slip mould and features a rat perched up on an uchide-no-kozuchi, otherwise known as a mallet of fortune.  It is believed that striking an uchide-no-kozuchi will bring anything you wish for, making it a very popular motif during New Year.  This piece was most likely made to commemorate the Year of the Rat back in 1996. The signature of the potter can be found on the bottom, and it comes with a black display stand.

Celadon refers to a type of glaze as well as a specific type of ware, both are characterized by a very pale green, powder blue, or grey-blue colour. The colour largely depends on the presence of iron in the clay and of iron oxide, manganese oxide, and quartz particles in the glaze. Firing conditions in the kiln also play a big role in determining colour.

Japanese okimono figurines are decorative items used for display purposes. Junishi okimono are those commemorating the twelve animals and mythological beasts from the astrological calendar. The Japanese astrological calendar is known as eto, and the twelve creatures are called junishi. The Zodiac’s popularity peaked during the Edo Era, and it was then that junishi okimono production became more widespread. These days, potters and production kilns produce hundreds of junishi each year to welcome the coming New Year. These are often displayed in shops, restaurants, people’s homes, and in tea rooms.

Sizes

Okimono:  H.14.3cm (5.6”) x L.19.7cm (7.7”) x W.12.8cm (5”)

Stand:  H.0.9cm (0.3”) x L.25cm (9.8”) x W.15cm (5.9”)

Condition

It’s in very good condition with no chips or cracks, the stand however has some scratches and scuffing.

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION                                                                 

**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  Very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to these countries.  We have no plan to register at this time because the process is in some cases very expensive and complicated, plus each country has its own set of regulations and application process. 

**USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway: Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-28 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Asia:  Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-21 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Central Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico:  EMS Express 10-15 days.

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.