Japanese Oni Mask Ceramic Christmas Tree Ornament, Set of 3 – Handmade-Style

Sold by an authorized seller from Japan's kawara industry — and a craftsman myself.

This Japanese onigawara oni figurine is an okimono for a shelf, desk or tabletop. It is modelled on the fierce guardian faces that have long adorned Japanese buildings. The face has a stern, watchful expression, with wide eyes, two pronounced horns and finely incised lines radiating around the features. A border of rounded beads frames the composition. The surface is a matte, softly textured charcoal grey with a subtle blue-grey sheen. Colour may vary slightly with lighting.

Onigawara are ornamental roof figures, traditionally placed at the ridge ends of the roofs of Japanese temples, castles and traditional houses. They form part of a long protective tradition in Japanese architecture. The oni countenance is traditionally regarded as a talisman, said to ward off evil and misfortune and to watch over the household beneath it.

This piece belongs to a Japanese traditional craft form. It is made in Japan of kawara clay, the traditional Japanese clay used for such ornaments, in ceramic form. It is produced in the traditional onigawara style, and its dignified presence suits a study, an entrance shelf or a collection of Japanese decorative arts.

• Type: Okimono figurine, tabletop ornament
• Material: Ceramic (kawara clay)
• Made in: Japan
• Colour: Charcoal grey / black
• Dimensions: length 2 cm, width 12 cm, height 8 cm
• Weight: 300 g

About the seller: I am a craftsman in the kawara (Japanese traditional ceramics) trade myself. We are an authorized seller launched by like-minded companies within Japan's kawara industry, and we handle a wide range of kawara and onigawara from across the country. Every item is carefully inspected and packed in Japan and shipped directly to you.