This elegant Japanese zodiac ornament depicts a pair of rats (子 / Nezumi) in a refined pale blue-green seiji (青磁 / celadon) glaze. Created for Yakushigama (薬師窯), the set features one larger and one smaller rat, arranged together like a parent and child.
Their softly rounded bodies, raised ears and gently lifted faces give the figures a calm, affectionate character. The smooth, luminous glaze recalls the restrained beauty of Kōrai seiji (高麗青磁), the celebrated celadon tradition associated with historic Korean ceramics.
The rats are presented on a simple black display base with a folding gold screen decorated with pine, bamboo and plum motifs. Known collectively as shōchikubai (松竹梅), these plants symbolise perseverance, vitality and renewal. The red character 寿 on the screen means “longevity,” further enhancing the set’s auspicious meaning. A small wooden maker’s plaque reading 招福干支—“auspicious zodiac”—completes the presentation.
Yakushigama is one of Japan’s best-loved ceramic workshops, particularly known for its zodiac ornaments and folk-inspired decorative pieces. Crafted in Seto, Aichi Prefecture, one of Japan’s oldest pottery centres, its work continues a ceramic tradition extending back more than a thousand years.
Size: 11 x 5 x 9.5cm (L) 7 x 3 x 6cm (S) 8 x 22cm (Base) 15 x 35cm (Backdrop)
