Folk Figurine - Inari-koma
のごみ人形 稲荷駒
A handmade clay horse figurine from Saga Prefecture.
The craft of nogomi ningyō, nogomi dolls, started after World War II as a means to soothe people’s hearts and minds. As such, these little clay figurines first started to be sold as good luck charms and talismans at the Yūtoku Inari shrine, the third largest Inari shrine in Japan. Inari is a kami (spirit or deity) in shintō religion, associated with the rice harvest, household well-being and foxes – who act as her messengers. Inari is one of the most widely venerated shintō deities in Japan.
These dolls are all made by hand using moulds to create the two sides which are joined together before firing them in a kiln at over 900 degrees Celsius. Afterwards they are coated with a white paint called gofun, that serves as the base onto which to paint all of the other colours.
This figurine depicts a heavenly horse with a jewel on his back. It is said to have the ability to fly and quell disasters.
The paint is not waterproof.
As each piece is handmade, there might be individual differences.
Small size: L6.5 cm x W3 cm x H6 cm
Large size: L11 cm x W4 cm x H11.4 cm
Kansai
The Kansai region includes the second-most populated metropolitan area in Japan with its largest city Osaka. Kyoto and Nara, two of Japan’s former capital cities, are home to important temples and shrines and strongholds of intangible cultural heritage, such as the Kyoto textile weaving skills of Nishijin.
