Japanese craftman make interior art Oni

The Only Authorized Onigawara Specialty Shop

This is Japan's only authorized specialty shop dedicated to onigawara, the ogre tiles handmade by master tile craftsmen from roof-tile regions across Japan. The shop is curated by a fifth-generation Kyoto roof-tile craftsman. Most of our pieces are made by craftsmen across Japan, and some are the curator's own work. Nothing is mass-produced.

About this piece

Hand-shaped with bamboo tools and fired in a kiln, this interior oni brings the presence of a traditional roof guardian into an entrance, living room, or workspace. Its gray finish comes from ibushi, a traditional Japanese smoking and firing technique. A string at the top makes it easy to hang on a wall.

What is onigawara?

Onigawara are made from the clay used for Japanese roof tiles, known as kawara. Kawara have protected temples and houses for about 1,400 years, since the Heian period. Set at the ends of a roof ridge, an onigawara has long been cherished as a protective amulet. Until the Edo period, kawara were reserved for shrines, temples, nobles, and samurai houses.

• Oni and guardian lion: believed to ward off evil spirits
• Water pattern: protection from flood and fire
• Peach: health, wellness, and a long life

Details

• Size: 18 × 10 × 8 cm (7.1 × 3.9 × 3.1 in)
• Weight: approx. 1 kg (2.2 lb)
• Material: Japanese roof tile clay (wagawara)
• Color: Gray
• Finish: Ibushi smoked finish
• Made in Japan
• Worldwide shipping available

Each piece is handmade, so the face, details, and color may differ slightly from the photographs. That difference is part of its character: no other oni has exactly this face.