rare vintage japanese black maneki neko cat, hanibe winking clay maneki neko

Love Japanese Style Like We Do

A vintage Hanibe clay maneki neko. Hanibe clay cats are a local folk craft of Komatsu City in Ishikawa Prefecture. Clay dolls were the first form of dolls made in Japan and the techniques and molds used to make this special cat have been handed down though generations.

Hanibe cats are characterized by their long arm, bent at the elbow, and extending over their head, behind one ear. This cat’s left arm is raised, beckoning in important people and great fortune into your life. And a long arm is said to have the power to draw in even more good luck.

They pose contentedly with their head quaintly tilted to one side and their long tail curling in front of their body. Their black body, a color said to ward off evil, is simply adorned with red ears and a red pleated collar, sometimes with a gold bell. Their most distinguishing feature, however, is their charming winking eye. Hanibe is carved into the underside of these cats.

This elegant cat is in good vintage condition, with only minimal places where the black paint has peeled. A difficult to find cat,  it is a style that deserves a place in every maneki neko collection.

The Hanibe cat can be seen in both the Mingei International Museum in California and ther book about the cats that were a collection donated to the museum by Billie Moffitt.

- measures 24 cm (9.4”) tall x 11 cm (4.3”) across x 10 cm (3.9”) deep.
- weighs 1,420 gm

SHIPPING INFORMATION
- please read our 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.

Please message us prior to purchase with any questions you may have about our products.

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.