Nara Ittobori - Moritoshi Ohbayashi Garden - Toshu Saku - Snake - Zodiac Decoration - Parent and Child Pair - 12 Zodiac Signs - Snake - Year of the Snake

Nara Ittobori Studio, Daibayashi Tōjuen
Snake (Year of the Snake) Parent and Child Pair, in a Paulownia Wood Box
Crafted by Daibayashi Toshuhide
Material: Camphor Wood
Approximate Dimensions:
Large: Height 6.5 cm, Width 3.5 cm, Depth 9 cm
Small: Height 5 cm, Width 2.5 cm, Depth 7 cm
Base: 18 x 14.5 x 1 cm
Purchase Price: ¥13,100

This item was created by the Nara Ittobori Studio, Daibayashi Tōjuen, founded in 1910, and passed down through three generations of father and son, inheriting the traditional techniques.

This is a work from the studio that creates the twelve zodiac animal ornaments that have been featured on postage stamps.
I desperately wanted this particular design, so I requested it directly from the studio, and they specially made it for me in 2019. The snakes currently featured on their website have a different style, making this a very rare item.

Displaying this for a year brought me a wonderful year.
The base has some minor scratches from wiping, but the parent and child snakes are in very beautiful condition.

I collected only the snake and dragon, which are not available in the Speel Form animal series, as Ittobori carvings.
Snakes can often appear scary or unpleasant, but I chose these because I loved their round, gentle eyes and their cute design, not coiled up.

I am gradually downsizing my seasonal decorations and, after much deliberation, have decided to part with this item as well.

This is a beautiful piece of Japanese traditional craftsmanship. I would be happy if it could be passed on to someone who will cherish it.