Antique Japanese Inari Fox — Porcelain, 1970, Showa Era (SKU: 25S-523-1)

Antique Japanese Inari Fox, Porcelain (SKU 25S-523-1)

Charming pair of shrine-style kitsune guardians in vivid hand-painted porcelain

Rendered in bright white porcelain with bold vermilion ears and gilt accents, this matched pair of Inari foxes (kitsune) evokes the spirit of a small Shinto shrine altar. Each fox sits alert upon a stylized plinth, holding a sacred flame-form offering at its side, a classic attribute of Inari’s divine messengers. The faces are delicately brushed with expressive black lines and soft red cheeks, giving these guardians a lively, almost theatrical presence.

The stepped bases are painted in striking blocks of black, orange, and green with gold details, recalling the lacquered offering chests seen at Fushimi Inari and other shrines. Displayed together, the pair forms a symmetrical composition ideal for flanking a tokonoma, home kamidana, or a focused corner of a modern interior. Their compact scale and crisp palette make them an excellent accent for collectors of Japanese porcelain and Inari shrine art.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: Showa period style, mid 20th century
• Material: Glazed porcelain with hand-painted enamel and gilt details
• Use: Domestic altar display, shelf or tokonoma decoration, Inari shrine kitsune collection
• Features: Pair of seated Inari fox guardians; shrine-style polychrome bases; sacred flame offerings; vivid vermilion ears; gold highlights; classic antique Japanese porcelain kitsune motif
• Dimensions: 3 1/2"W x 2 1/4"D x 7 1/4"H per piece
• Condition: Excellent

A refined, characterful pair of Inari foxes that brings the atmosphere of a Japanese shrine gracefully into the home.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All vintage and antique items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.