Shigaraki Ware Ceramic Tanuki 22cm

 
Size: 22 cm
Country of manufacture: Shigaraki ware made in Japan
Material / component: ceramic
 
This is a ceramic tanuki statue from Shigaraki.
Shigaraki ware, one of the six oldest kilns in Japan, is a historic pottery produced mainly in Shigaraki, Koga City, Shiga Prefecture. It is famous for its Tanuki/raccoon dog figurines.
In Japan, tanuki have long been considered lucky charms.
In the Momoyama period (1573-1600), tanuki incense containers and tanuki ink containers were produced as tea ceremony utensils in various pottery-producing regions.Hanging scrolls with tanuki on them were also used for tea ceremonies.
It is said that tanuki were first produced in Shigarakiaround 1897, and the idea came from seeing a group of raccoons with their bellies clenched,
The fat tanuki holding a tokkuri and a bankbook became the mainstream formulation