Japanese Fukurokuju Figure Made of Bizen Ware
Sold – no longer available
This piece was a handmade one-of-a-kind work. It cannot be reordered and will never exist in this form again. The page stays online as part of our archive.
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Details about the sold piece
- Height 12.5 cm
- Width 8 cm
- Weight 0.436 g
- Color Brown
- Item Type Figure
- Material Ceramics
- Period of Creation Shôwa (1926–1989)
- Style / Tradition Bizen-yaki
- Unique Work Yes
- Wooden Box Yes
No longer available
Description
The characteristically elongated, towering skull reveals at first glance which of the seven Japanese gods of fortune this is: Fukurokuju, god of wisdom, luck, and a long life. The long, finely worked beard and the broad, contented smile reinforce the impression of a benevolent being at peace with itself.
Despite its compact, small size, the figure appears remarkably present thanks to its clear formal language and the warm, earthy coloring of the unglazed Bizen ware. The characteristic surface texture, fired in a traditional wood kiln, with its shimmering red and brown tones, lends the small god of fortune additional depth and vitality. The piece is kept in a specially made wooden box (tomobako), which suggests careful handling by previous owners and underscores the museum-like character of the object.
As a handcrafted one-of-a-kind piece from the Shôwa period, this Fukurokuju figure combines the typical aesthetic of the Bizen-yaki tradition with an endearing, fortune-bringing motif – a decorative gem for collectors of Japanese ceramic art.
