Features
A pair of lucky gods: Daikokuten is the guardian of wealth and of the grain harvest, while Ebisu stands for a smooth career and thriving trade. Modelled together, their meanings reinforce one another, which makes the piece popular with business people and collectors.
Finely cast in bronze: made by the traditional lost-wax casting method, the detail is crisp and the expressions natural, showing the craftsman's respect for the deities and his accomplished technique.
Natural copper oxidation: the surface carries slight green patches of verdigris, natural traces given by time and air. These are not flaws; they add to the historical and artistic value of the piece.
Solid and steady in weight: the bronze body is heavy and sits securely, suiting it to long-term display on an altar table, in a wealth corner, in a study, a tea room or on a counter.
Auspicious meaning: an image of two gods gathering wealth, standing for peace in the home, a flourishing career and thriving trade; figures of this kind are commonly kept as guardian images in Japanese temples, tea rooms and businesses.
High collecting value: as Japanese religious and folk-belief sculpture receives more attention, finely cast bronze deity figures are well regarded on the international market, with value both as art and as an investment.
◆ Suggested settings
Wealth at the entrance: welcoming fortune and blessing, guarding the home and dispelling ill influences.
Commercial spaces: display in shops, at company counters and in meeting rooms, to lift the energy of the business.
Feng shui placement at home: good for the wealth corner, the north-east, the family altar or a study, to build positive energy.
An accessory for devotion: as a deity figure within a temple or Buddhist hall, combining faith with beauty.
An excellent gift: very suitable as an auspicious present for an opening, a housewarming or a promotion, deep in meaning, dignified and elegant.