Vintage Japanese Raccoon — Ceramic, 1980, Showa Era (SKU: 25M-392-3)

Vintage Japanese Raccoon — Ceramic, 1980, Showa Era (SKU: 25M-392-3)

SKU:
25M-392-3
$400.00
IMPORTED FROM JAPAN
Size: 15"W x 15 1/2"D x 24"H
Ship From Location: Berkeley, California
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Description

Vintage Japanese Tanuki Statue — Ceramic, 1980s, Showa Era
Cheerful Lantern-Bearer of Prosperity

Round-bellied and bright-eyed, this spirited tanuki (Japanese raccoon dog) arrives clutching a saké flask in one paw and a paper lantern in the other—ready to illuminate late-night adventures and toast to good fortune. Crafted in the 1980s, he wears a weathered straw hat, his plump porcelain belly gleaming beneath a coat of glossy slip glaze. Every brushstroke captures the tanuki’s beguiling mix of mischief and generosity: from the playful tilt of his head to the calligraphic “八” (8) which means spreading out like an open fan painted.

In Japanese folklore the tanuki is a shape-shifting yōkai who delights in surprises, rewards honest merchants, and ushers wealth into the home. Place him near your entryway or on a shop counter and he’ll greet guests with eternal optimism—reminding all who pass that business thrives on laughter, hospitality, and a dash of whimsy.

  • Origin: Japan

  • Era: Showa period, circa 1980s

  • Material: Hand-painted ceramic with natural straw-fiber hat

  • Use: Decorative figure; symbol of commercial success, luck, and convivial gatherings

  • Features: Classic 7-virtue attributes (hat, eyes, smile, belly, saké bottle, promissory note,  sturdy tail); expressive face; intact original rope details

  • Dimensions: 15"W x 15 1/2"D x 24"H

  • Condition: Excellent vintage condition; minor glaze crazing and gentle wear consistent with age

May his lantern guide you toward unexpected joys, and his jovial grin keep prosperity forever at your door.

Additional Information
size:
15"W x 15 1/2"D x 24"H