*THIS ITEM WEIGHS 2835 GRAMS WITHOUT PACKING, SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS LISTING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SHIPPING OPTIONS AND UPGRADES.

This listing is for a large and rather portly Shigaraki tanuki okimono made about 40-50 years ago. He is wearing a large brown ‘straw hat’ and appears to be grooving to some music.  Usually tanuki hold a sake bottle in their right hand and a promissory note in their left hand, but this chap is empty handed and in full party mode.  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 straw hat is a relatively new addition making its appearance sometime around the beginning of the 1900s.  The stamp of the kiln/potter can be found on the brim of his hat.  

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.

Shigaraki-ware refers to pottery made in Shiga Prefecture. Shigaraki is perhaps one of the more well-known types of stoneware with its origins dating back to the Kamakura period. The Shiga region is home to one of the six oldest kilns in Japan, and this is because of its superb clay. It has a reddish-orange colour, along with a natural ash glaze acquired from the deposit of ashes in the kilns. Pieces of quartz, feldspar or silica can often be found on the surface, giving Shigaraki a wonderful gritty texture and rustic charm. Historically potters produced wares specifically for the tea ceremony, however craftsmen gradually shifted to producing items such as vases and sake bottles as well.      

 Size

H.26cm (10.2”) x 18cm (7”) across x 18.5cm (7.2”) from back to front                                   

Condition  

It’s in very good condition aside from a slightly wobbly bottom and one minor chip on his hat.                                                                                                                                    

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION                                                                 

**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  The aforementioned countries have very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to your country.  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:  SAL Sea Mail (approx. 11-12 weeks), an upgrade for EMS Express (7-10 days) available for an additional 8000 yen. 

**UK , Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe:  SAL Sea Mail (approx. 8-12 weeks depending on the destination), an upgrade for EMS Express (7-10 days) available for an additional 6600 yen. 

**Asia:  SAL Sea Mail (approx. 6-8 weeks), an upgrade for EMS Express (5-7 days) available for an additional 3350 yen. 

**Middle East, Central Asia, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico:  EMS Express only (7-15 days).

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.