🎎 Vintage Japanese Tanuki Statue with Sake Flask & Ledger – Japan Antique Roadshow

This is a rather small tanuki statue—modest in size but full of character. It shows the familiar figure seen across Japan: a wide-eyed, pot-bellied tanuki in a straw hat, holding a sake flask in one paw and a merchant’s ledger in the other. These statues bring humor and luck, but also act as a gentle reminder not to overdo it—especially when it comes to drink, spending, or desire.

In Japanese folklore, tanuki are trickster spirits with the ability to shape-shift and confuse. Their presence in front of shops and homes became especially popular during the Showa period, when their image was tied to prosperity, cheer, and a light touch of mischief. This piece, likely from the mid-to-late Showa era (1926–1989), carries those qualities well. The hand-glazed ceramic finish has aged gracefully, with earthy tones and soft brushwork bringing the features to life.

There are some signs of age—surface wear throughout, and a few kiln cracks near the base, likely formed during the original firing process. These do not affect the structure and only add to the charm and handmade nature of the piece.

📏 Approximate dimensions
• Height: 13 cm
• Width: 8 cm
• Weight: 340 g
• Material: Ceramic
• Era: Mid-to-late Showa (昭和, 1926–1989)
• Condition: Good vintage condition; surface wear and a few kiln cracks at the base

Curated in Shizuoka City by Kurt Bell, this little tanuki carries both cheer and quiet wisdom—an emblem of joy tempered by the lessons of restraint and reality.

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