Japanese Onigawara Oni Figurine Okimono, Grey Ceramic Tabletop Ornament

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

This okimono figurine presents an oni in the traditional onigawara manner, set within a softly flared, bell-shaped frame edged with rows of rounded studs. The brow is furrowed beneath a crest that rises like a flame, and the eyes are open and fixed. Bared teeth and curved fangs show above a finely incised, flowing beard. The surface is a matte, slate-grey ceramic, and its tone may appear slightly different depending on lighting.

Onigawara are ornamental ridge-end tiles that were set upon the roofs of Japanese temples, castles and traditional houses. They form part of a long protective tradition in Japanese architecture, and the fierce faces of the oni were a defining feature of these roof ornaments.

Traditionally, the onigawara has been regarded as a talisman. It is said to ward off evil and misfortune and to watch over the household beneath it. These are matters of tradition and belief, offered here as cultural context.

Made in Japan of kawara clay, a traditional Japanese ceramic, this piece belongs to a Japanese traditional craft form. It is designed to stand freely on a shelf, desk or tabletop, where it can serve as a dignified accent in a home, study or collection of Japanese art.

• Type: Okimono figurine, onigawara style
• Material: Kawara (traditional Japanese ceramic)
• Origin: Japan
• Dimensions: Length 4 cm x Width 15 cm x Height 12 cm
• Weight: 450 g (0.45 kg)
• Quantity: 1

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.