Ceramic Smiling Fukujin Mask Wall Hanging
A face that smiles without the slightest reserve — the kind you remember at first glance. This old Japanese ceramic mask of a god of fortune renders the traditional figure in a full, exaggerated manner. The rounded, generous face, upswept brows and eyes, open-mouthed grin showing the teeth, together with thick side whiskers and a black beard at the chin, give it all the rustic humour characteristic of Japanese folk craft. A gold cap with a black band sits on the head, while the face is worked mainly in warm orange, with the features picked out in black, red, white and gold. The colours are vivid, yet time has taken away the sharpness of something new, leaving instead the settled air that only an old piece has. Particularly charming is the cord tassel decoration still preserved at the position of both ears, which makes this more than a simple ceramic figure — it carries a hint of traditional ritual, folk craft and local culture. (One slight hairline on the reverse.)
