This elegant ceramic horse, its back crowned with a golden Hōju (火焔宝珠) — the sacred flame jewel of Buddhist iconography — was created by Kyoto folk-toy and Kiyomizu-ware artist Takeshi Takahashi (高橋毅孖).
Takahashi was active in Kyoto’s Kiyomizuzaka district, the heart of Kiyomizu-yaki pottery and the birthplace of the Kiyomizu ningyō (Kiyomizu clay doll) tradition. His family line is said to have produced ceramics since the late Edo period, later specializing in hand-modeled dolls and tsuchibina (clay festival figures). By the Shōwa mid-century, Takeshi Takahashi became recognized for his delicate dorei (clay bells) and folk zodiac figures (eto) — works that blend the sincerity of Japanese folk art with the refinement of Kyoto craftsmanship.
The horse, symbol of energy and progress, is modeled in a calm, stylized form, covered with a soft white glaze that reflects Kyoto’s preference for quiet harmony. On its back rests the gilded Hōju, representing enlightenment, fortune, and wish fulfillment — a motif long associated with Buddhist treasures and the dragon king’s pearl.
This work exemplifies Takahashi’s mature style: clean silhouettes, tranquil expressions, and restrained color enhanced by a single luminous detail. His signature appears on the accompanying tomobako (artist-signed wooden box), whose inscription attests to both his authorship and the piece’s status as a crafted object of good fortune (shōfuku).
Takahashi’s creations — from mask-shaped bells to auspicious animal figures — are today regarded as important examples of Kyoto’s mid-20th-century folk craft (mingei). They bridge the realm of the humble toy and the contemplative art object, capturing a moment when handmade local traditions met the sensibilities of modern Japan.
Size: 20 x 11 x 24cm
