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Bronze Okimono of a Tanuki

The tanuki, also known as the Japanese raccoon dog (badger), is very much a real animal that resembles a furry fox-like canid with a masked visage similar to that of a raccoon. Within Japan the tanuki is believed to be a shape-shifting, hedonistic and jovial trickster. This bronze robed tanuki is holding prayer beads. The bottom reveals his underside in great detail, showing the pads of his feet and fur. Unsigned and quite unusually so, for such a finely made okimono.