A jizai kagi (adjustable hearth pot hook) crafted in the simple Ebisu style. Oversized examples like this were often showcased during the Meiji period as symbols of prosperity, their scale suggesting abundance in times of scarcity. The Ebisu style references the household god of good fortune and patron of fishermen, one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, whose distinctive peaked cap is echoed in the hook’s silhouette. Decades of exposure to hearth smoke have given the metal a rich, authentic patina. Please note: the jizai does not stand independently.

c. 19^th century (Edo period), Japan

17" height × 13" width × 6 ½" depth