A very large Japanese ceramic black beckoning cat (maneki neko) from the Wikawa region. The maneki neko is a popular mascot in Japan, with its raised paw beckoning in good fortune and prosperity. The painted cat sits on its haunches with its left paw raised and wears a collar tied in the back. It has a short, bobbed tail, which is customary for the indigenous Japanese mike cat. The fable of the maneki neko tells of a shop owner who was about to close his business when a cat he had shared a meal with returned to sit by his door, beckoning customers in with an upturned paw and saving the business. At the end of the very busy day, saved from the brink of disaster, the shop owner goes out in front of his store to see what could possibly be different or account for his sudden turn of fortune; and sitting by the shop’s door is the cat beckoning customers into the store with an upturned paw. It has wear to the paint and ceramics from age.

c. 19^th–20^th century (Meiji period), Japan

20" height x 13" width x 13" diameter