Japanese antique 1800s soot-stained pottery dolls of two gods, Ebisu and Daikoku, the Seven Lucky Gods, Edo handmade craft H6.5in/16.5cm
Ebisu and Daikoku, two of the most popular and often paired deities in Japanese folklore and are part of the "Shichifukujin , the Seven Lucky Gods". They are widely revered as symbols of prosperity, good fortune, and abundance.
Ebisu represents the abundance of the sea and the good fortune that comes from hard work and fair dealings. Daikoku represents material wealth, plentiful food, and a prosperous household. He is often seen as a protector of the home and granaries.
In Japan, there's a long-standing custom of enshrining Ebisu and Daikoku as guardian deities in shops and homes. These two gods, believed to bring abundant catches of fish—a staple in the Japanese diet—and bountiful rice harvests, were often placed above the irori, a traditional Japanese hearth where charcoal was constantly burned. This was essentially the heart of the Japanese kitchen and where families gathered to eat. As a result, the unglazed ceramic figures, worshipped for many years, would become covered in soot and turn black. These two deities were likely originally painted on their unglazed ceramic surfaces. However, the layers of paint are now covered in soot, with some areas flaking off. Despite this, their gently smiling expressions remain incredibly soft and serene.
condition... There are scratches and dirt due to aging due to age
I list antiques that sometimes have chips, rubbings and cracks as they are very old antiques so please check the images and understand the current condition before buying.
