Japanese pottery bell "SHISHI" lion doll ornament Paper weight, Christmas Ornaments Japanese vintage small bell H2.2in/H5.5cm

Japanese pottery bell "SHISHI" lion doll ornament Paper weight, Christmas Ornaments Japanese vintage small bell H2.2in/H5.5cm.

This is a ceramic bell. It is cute and unique, and recommended as a Christmas decoration or New Year's ornament.
In Japan, it is called a “tsuchi-suzume” and has been loved for many years.
This item is an unglazed ceramic piece decorated with paintings, which has been made since the Edo period (1603-1868) as a local toy, an amulet to ward off evil spirits, or a symbol of good fortune. Japanese local toys are also traditional crafts of the region. Many of them are made using local materials and feature designs related to religious beliefs or local animals.

The motif of this work is the “lion.” In Japanese shrines, a pair of komainu statues can be found at most shrines. These are placed near the “torii” gates of the shrine or in front of the main hall. Komainu are imaginary beasts originating from India and are considered the guardian deities of shrines. They have unique faces rather than frightening ones.
Kanji characters are engraved on the back.

□ Size: H 2.2in × W 3in × D3.1in （about H5.5cm×W7.5cm×D8cm ）
□ Weight : 5.9oz (168g)
□ Material : clay, pottery

condition...
It is in good condition, but there are small scratches and dirt due to aging.

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.