This exceptional Horse Zodiac (午 / Uma) Itto-bori carving from Kasuga Taisha (春日大社) represents the refined beauty and spiritual heritage of traditional Nara craftsmanship. Created for the year 庚午 (Kōgo / 1990), the piece is part of the revered Eto Itto-bori (干支一刀彫) tradition—wooden zodiac carvings shaped through bold, expressive knife work.
Hand-carved from natural wood, the horse is rendered in a beautifully minimalist form, with angular facets and clean geometric lines that reveal the marks of the artisan’s blade. Despite its simplicity, the figure carries a graceful sense of motion and quiet strength, qualities long associated with the horse in the Japanese zodiac. In Japanese culture, the horse symbolizes vitality, perseverance, success, and forward momentum, making it a meaningful talisman for progress and good fortune.
This carving originates from Kasuga Taisha, the historic Shinto shrine in Nara renowned for preserving classical Japanese arts and ceremonial traditions. The accompanying inscription explains that these zodiac carvings are inspired by the ancient decorative wooden figures once offered during shrine ceremonies, linking the piece to centuries of spiritual and artistic heritage.
Presented in its original signed wooden storage box and accompanied by its original paper insert, this work possesses the understated elegance characteristic of mid- to late-20th-century Japanese folk art. The warm natural grain of the wood and the restrained hand-painted details further enhance its timeless presence.
A beautiful example of Nara Itto-bori carving, this piece is both a collectible work of Japanese craftsmanship and a symbolic object carrying wishes for safety, prosperity, and renewal into the new year.
Size: 6 x 3 x 7cm
