🎎 Vintage Japanese Ao-Oni & Aka-Oni Ceramic Bell – Guardian Oni Folk Art

This vintage Japanese ceramic bell celebrates the striking duality of oni, the horned ogres of Japanese folklore. One face reveals the fiery Aka-Oni (red demon), while the other presents the brooding Ao-Oni (blue/green demon). In Japanese tradition, oni are both feared and revered—warding off misfortune while protecting the home.

Figures like this are part of a long folk tradition where oni serve as seasonal guardians, especially during Setsubun, the spring festival in which people symbolically cast out evil to invite good fortune. Bells and masks inspired by oni continue to appear as lucky talismans, evoking the deep rhythms of old Japan.

This piece likely dates to the mid-Showa period (c. 1950s–70s). Its hand-painted surface has aged into a warm patina, with minor chips on a horn and ear, and natural wear from decades of life and display. The fiber cord is original, and the bell remains sturdy, resonant, and full of character.

📏 Details
• Item: Vintage Japanese Ao-Oni & Aka-Oni ceramic bell (dorei)
• Material: Hand-painted ceramic with natural fiber cord
• Dimensions: 17 cm tall (without cord), 19 cm wide
• Weight: 170 g
• Era: Mid-Showa period (c. 1950s–70s)
• Condition: Honest wear, small chips, no cracks—display-ready

Curated in Shizuoka City by softypapa, this bell carries the spirit of Japanese folk heritage, offering a vivid reminder of protective traditions and the quiet storytelling of handcrafted objects.

➡️ Explore more treasures at: https://softypapa-shop.fourthwall.com
🌐 Website: https://goingalone.org
📧 Email: dinnerbytheriver@gmail.com
🌀 Discord: https://discord.gg/srfDtMN5jA
👍 Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/softypapa

#KurtBell #GoingAlone #JapanAntiqueRoadshow #JapaneseAntiques #Oni #FolkArt #VintageJapan