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Kanso House

Antique Japanese Carved Daikoku Figure - 02

Antique Japanese Carved Daikoku Figure - 02

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Regular price $175.00
Regular price Sale price $175.00
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Antique early 20th century smiling Daikoku figure.

I acquired this and a number of other Daikoku figures from a dealer in Tokyo who specialises in rare and unique folk sculpture, in his words Japan's Daikoku expert! We spent a wonderful afternoon talking about antiques and discussing the many nuances of the different sculptures, how to tell the age of the sculptures based on certain design features.

Here is Watanabe San's description of this Sculpture:

"This is a wooden carving of Daikokuten, one of the most popular deities in Japan.

The blessings associated with Daikokuten largely concern food and wealth, including a bountiful harvest, business prosperity, financial fortune, and general good luck. He is typically depicted wearing a hood, standing atop bales of rice, and holding a large sack of treasures and a magic mallet (Uchide-no-Kozuchi).

It is believed that wealth pours forth when he swings the mallet in his right hand, and the sack on his left shoulder is filled with treasures. The most distinctive feature of this wooden carving is its incredibly charming smile. It’s the kind of face that instantly makes you smile too. Many people in Japan are interested in divine or Buddhist statues but feel intimidated by their solemnity. For such individuals, a gentle, approachable figure like this one is very popular.

The mallet is often broken or lost on these types of statues, so we are delighted that it has remained intact. Carved into his chest is a Hōju.The Hōju is a wish-fulfilling jewel originating from Buddhism, believed to have the power to ward off disaster and purify. It is thought that this sacred symbol was added to increase the statue's spiritual efficacy."



Measures approx 9cm tall x 6cm wide x 7cm deep. 

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An educational meeting

Tokyo 31-08-25

At the end of August I met Watanabe san, a passionate dealer in Tokyo who calls himself Japan's Daikokuten sculpture expert. We met at a dimly lit cafe and over the next 5 hours he brought out piece after piece sharing the history of each one, explaining to me the how sculpture designs have changed over the centuries, how to indentify a rare piece vs a common everyday sculpture.

Adding to the collection

I left the meeting exhausted, we had a translator with us who was amazing but listenting to two languages and trying to understand everything I was learning was alot ot take in. I did manage however to buy from him a small collection of wonderful sculptures to bring back to Australia.

Sharing the passion of daikokuten

Watanabe Collection

We can now share these pieces with you and explain the history and meaning behind each one, all thanks to Watanabe San's generosity with his extensive knowledge.

Read more

Read more about my meeting with Watanabe san in our Articles Section

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All you need to know

Shipping

We dispatch all orders within 2 business days via Australia Post. For extra large items, we may use a courier and will communicate with you about the options.

Standard shipping costs (Australia):

  • $0- $100 order: $10
  • $100-$200 order: $15
  • $200+ order: FREE SHIPPING

Standard Post takes 3-8 days to arrive to Australian destinations.

Express Post takes 1-2 days, unless there are delays due to peak postal times (ie Christmas).

You will be notified of any delays from our end (prior to shipping) as soon as possible.

Once shipped, you will receive a tracking number so you can check the AusPost website for arrival details.

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The promises we keep:

  • 30 days of reflection after receiving the product. 
  • Need an exchange? We will send you the new product within 4 business days of the day of receipt. 
  • Would you prefer us to refund your money? We will refund you within 3 days of receipt.

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About us

Kanso House is an online store, occasionally hosting popups in Victoria, Australia.

We are a family run small business with a passion for beautiful functional objects.

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You can chat live using the ? icon in the bottom right of your screen, or email us at hello@kansohouse.com.au and we'll reply within 24 hours.