large black kutani pottery maneki neko cat for good luck and wealth

Love Japanese Style Like We Do

Bring an aura of good fortune and opulence into your space with this stunning large and heavy black Kutani pottery maneki neko cat. This beautiful piece beckons in good luck and wealth, exuding a sense of simple elegance that is truly striking. A must-have for those seeking to add a touch of charm and prosperity to their decor.

The 38 cm (15 “) tall cat is entirely black with only a brightly decorated orange bib, fastened at the back with a tie and covered in green and gold bamboo leaves. Two gold bells are suspended from the cat’s collar. The eye-catching bib is covered in Mori style raised lines, forming a pattern of chrysanthemum flowers, squirls and a circle around the Japanese kanji (fuku) for good luck.

The cat’s face is adorable with big, round eyes, very long, dimensional line whiskers and eyebrows and a sweet pink nose and mouth.

It’s gold claws are outlined too, in raised white lines, creating a shadow that really gives them a three dimensional effect.

This maneki neko is full of auspicious symbols. A black cat is said to ward off evil. A voluminous bib represents protection of one’s family. Bamboo gives us resilience to overcome adversities. Chrysanthemums stand for long life and a gold bell keeps away bad luck. A cat with big, wide open eyes is capable of searching for and beckoning in good fortune from afar. Lucky cats with raised right arms bring in good fortune and happiness.

This beautiful lucky charm is a thick, heavy and sturdy piece. It was made at the Kutani Hachimangama kiln in Ishikawa Prefecture and  bears the kiln’s impressed seal on the underside. It is just the perfect decoration to beckon in good fortune to your home or your store and, as the Japanese say, the bigger the cat, the bigger the luck!

- measures about 38 cm (15”) tall x 23 cm (9”) across x 20 cm (7.8”) deep.
- weighs 6,000 gm (13.2 lbs)

(listing for large black cat only)

SHIPPING INFORMATION
- please read our shipping notes in shipping policy.
- we use recycle packaging wherever possible and wrap for safety, rather than appearance!

ABOUT OUR VINTAGE, ANTIQUE AND OTHER ITEMS
We list pieces we feel are worthy of display. There may be scratches, dents, fading and signs of wear and tear. We try to explain the condition of each item exactly, but may miss something.

Information regarding the item and it’s age is obtained from dealers and our personal research. We do our best to give you the correct information but please be aware that we cannot guarantee this information.

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KUTANI WARE / KUTANIYAKI
Kutani ware is a type of pottery manufactured in the city of Kaga in Ishikawa prefecture. It is a traditional handicraft that was first produced during the early Edo period (early 17th century).

Kutani ware's notable features are vivid colors, bold and elegant designs, and a particular technique of overglaze painting. This technique consists of using pigments to paint a pattern over a glaze and then firing the piece again. Because the paint used for the overglaze can be fired at about 800℃ (about 1472℉), there is a wide variety of colors that can be used.

Kutani ware are all very colorful but the colors used differ depending on the type of pottery. Kokutani and Mokubei use five colors, (red, yellow, green, purple, and Prussian blue). Kokutani has lovely patterns of birds and flowers, landscapes, and geometric motifs. Mokubei features small Chinese scholarly men figures amongst pine trees. Yoshidaya is beautiful with four vivid shades of blue, yellow, purple, and Prussian blue and patterns include plants, flowers and birds. The red used in Iidaya is striking and distinctive with detailed figures like dragons and lion dogs drawn in fine red lines with gold ornaments. Mori is an ornate textured pattern used with gold on ornate figures like the maneki neko beckoning cat. Sometsuke is a ceramic painted in only cobalt blue and white.

MANEKI NEKO
Maneki neko, or the beckoning cat, is a good luck charm that dates back to the Edo era. It was traditionally used by businesses to beckon in customers and money. A raised left paw beckons in customers and a raised right paw beckons in money and good fortune. 

These days, not just businesses, but almost every Japanese household has a maneki neko for good luck. Sometimes both of the paws are raised! There are so many different kinds of maneki neko and they really make a wonderful collection item.