Shishi koma-inu de cerámica Kutani, león guardián con esfera de brocado policromada, esmalte rojo hierro, período Shōwa, 34 cm

Theatrical and assertive, this Kutani shishi sets a body of saturated iron red against a brocade ball worked in blue, black, white and gold. Bared teeth, a flame-curled tail and a paw planted on the sphere retell the old story of chaos subdued, at a scale made for interior display.

The Piece

This imposing Kutani ware shishi presents a bold, almost theatrical interpretation of the guardian lion tradition. Rendered in saturated iron-red glaze, it belongs to the large-format category of interior shishi okimono. The stance is dynamic and assertive: one paw firmly planted atop a richly patterned brocade jewel, the body coiled with muscular energy, the tail rising in flame-like curls that emphasize movement and authority.

The face is intense and animated, with wide-set eyes, bared teeth and deeply carved curls. Kutani's hallmark polychrome detailing appears most vividly in the jewel beneath the paw, layered in blue, black, white and gold; the contrast between the monochrome red body and the ornate sphere heightens the drama and reinforces the symbolic narrative of control, protection and the subjugation of chaotic forces.

Pieces of this scale were typically produced for interior display rather than shrine placement, as statement objects for homes, businesses and reception spaces. Their weight, fragility and the limits of domestic storage and international transport make large Kutani shishi increasingly difficult to find intact. Confident hand-modeling and controlled enamel application point to experienced workshop production.

Details

• Maker: Kutani ware (attributed by style; kiln undocumented)
• Era: Showa period
• Origin: Japan
• Material: High-fired ceramic with iron-red glaze, polychrome enamels and gilt accents
• Color: Iron-red body; brocade ball in blue, black, white and gold
• Measurements: Height approx. 34 cm · Width approx. 25 cm · Depth approx. 23 cm (height elsewhere recorded as approx. 35 cm)
• Form: Koma-inu shishi guardian lion with brocade ball, ceramic okimono

Condition

• Scratches and soiling consistent with age and prior display; the form appears structurally sound, with no obvious breaks or restorations visible.
• Age-related surface wear, minor abrasions and patina consistent with time and handling; no major structural cracks observed.

Shishi in Kutani Ware

In Japan the shishi is carved in stone and wood, cast in bronze and modeled in clay. As ceramic okimono, the guardian moves into the home, holding a room while keeping its protective charge. Kutani, celebrated for bold color language and layered enamel, gives the form unusual visual authority, with forceful musculature, animated faces and a richly ornamented sphere.

Compared with other traditions, Kutani shishi offer a presence close to the impact of bronze while keeping the expressive surface of ceramic art. Placed near an entrance or a passage between rooms, where threshold symbolism is strongest, the figure reads as a guardian rather than an ornament.

Large-format ceramic shishi are uncommon. At scale, firing risk rises, warping and cracking are harder to control, glaze behavior becomes less predictable and transport risk climbs sharply, so most shishi okimono stayed at tabletop or altar size; larger examples reflect greater ambition and more complex production.

• Kutani: saturated enamels with red and gold, built for spectacle
• Arita and Imari: white porcelain bodies, refined and lighter in presence
• Seto and Tokoname: earthier glazes and a quieter folk character
• Bronze: durable, formal and often architectural

Authenticity & Care

Attribution to Kutani ware rests on decorative style, glaze characteristics and sculptural form; no kiln documentation is available, and no exact dating or kiln attribution is implied. Every piece is examined and documented in Japan before dispatch and is offered with the Japonista authenticity guarantee.

Delivery from Japan

Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Returns follow our published policy.

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