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

This listing is for a small earthenware tanuki bell. He is holding the customary sake bottle and promissory note, and sports a large straw hat. Traditionally tanuki were portrayed as sleek creatures much like kitsune, however these rotund types can be traced back to the latter part of the Edo Period. The promissory note and straw hat are a relatively new addition making their appearance sometime around the beginning of the 1900s.

Tanuki are generally considered to bring good luck and are characterized as having eight traits. The straw hat protects against trouble, the big eyes are for surveying the environment and making good decisions, the sake bottle symbolizes virtue, the big tail provides stability and strength, the very large testicles symbolize financial luck and big sacks of money, the promissory note signifies trust, the large belly indicates the ability to make good decisions under pressure, and finally they are friendly with a warm smile.

Pottery bells, or dorei as they are known in Japanese, are usually sold as souvenirs and can be found all over Japan. Dorei usually have a coloured string attached through a hole on top and contain a hard ceramic ball inside that clatters when shaken or moved around. Traditionally they were purchased as lucky charms from temples or shrines, but these days you can buy them as mementos of places you have visited.

Sizes

Paper Box:  H.7.3cm (2.8”) x 5.7cm (2.2”) x 5.7cm (2.2”)
Bell:  H.5.7cm (2.2”) x 4.7cm (1.8”) across x 4.2cm (1.6”) from back to front

Condition
It’s in very good condition aside from some marks on the face.

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.