Vintage Japanese Shigaraki Tanuki Statue, 1990 - 2018 (Heisei) | SKU: 26M-016

Japanese Tanuki Statue | Shigaraki Lucky Raccoon Dog Figurine & Living Room Accent, 1990-2018 (Heisei), SKU 26M-016

A rotund and cheerful Shigaraki-yaki tanuki -- Japan's most beloved good-luck talisman rendered in richly glazed stoneware.

A tanuki is a raccoon dog figure deeply rooted in Japanese folklore, traditionally placed at the entrance of shops and homes to invite good fortune, prosperity, and conviviality. Shigaraki-yaki -- fired in the ancient kilns of Shiga Prefecture, one of Japan's six original pottery centers -- is the most celebrated origin for tanuki statues, prized for its warm, earthy tones and robust stoneware body. This compact Heisei-era example captures the classic iconography with delightful charm: a wide-brimmed woven kasa hat detailed with radiating basket-weave texture on the reverse, a rotund cream-glazed belly tied with a green-leaf bundle held in the paws, an expressive dark-brown face with wide white eyes, and a cheerful red bow accent at the hat brim. The modeled fur texture is crisp and finely rendered throughout, while the glaze palette -- deep chocolate brown, warm amber, cream, and leafy green -- reflects the hallmark Shigaraki color sensibility. A painted tablet mark appears on the lower side, consistent with Shigaraki workshop production of the Heisei period.

In a modern home, this handcrafted Japanese pottery figure makes an instantly characterful living room accent or entryway decor piece -- precisely where tanuki have always stood guard over good luck. Its compact, rounded form and warm earthy palette suit a wabi-sabi aesthetic or Japandi-style shelf equally well. It would make a wonderful housewarming gift or a unique gift for Japanophiles and collectors of Japanese folk art. Display it on a bookshelf, side table, or kitchen windowsill to bring a touch of Japanese whimsy and traditional craftsmanship into any room.

• Origin: Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture, Japan
• Era: 1990-2018 (Heisei)
• Material: Shigaraki stoneware with polychrome glaze -- deep brown, amber, cream, and green
• Use: Decorative good-luck figurine; traditionally placed at shop or home entrances to invite prosperity
• Modern Use: Living room accent or shelf display; entryway good-luck decor; housewarming or collector gift
• Features: Classically modeled tanuki form with woven kasa hat (basket-weave texture on reverse), cream belly, green-leaf bundle, red bow accent, wide white eyes, finely incised fur texture throughout, painted workshop tablet mark on lower side
• Dimensions: 8"W x 6"D x 10"H
• Condition: Excellent

A joyful piece of Japanese antique pottery steeped in folk tradition -- this Shigaraki tanuki brings good fortune and warm character to any modern 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.