Figure of shishi (imaginary animal like lion), enamelled ware

These are large guardian dogs representing large tama-tori lions, and were probably dedicated to shrines as a pair of aden. There are quite a few examples of this type of guardian dogs, both large and small, but these are the largest of the lot. The porcelains are not so finely made, and the firing of many of the pieces is a little rough, probably due to concerns about cracks in the kiln caused by the fine workmanship. This lion in overglaze enamels is the most gorgeous of the three, but two or three other pieces with similar colors remain. The inscription on the chest and belly of the guardian dog reads, “Dedicated to Sonobe Gojinsha Shrine on the auspicious day of the 9th month of the Genroku Jinshin Hurra, Nakakuma Village Gorazaemon, Sonobe Ichizaemon, Mikadokoro Village Tokuemon, Iemon, Senri Kuri-cho Aoyagi Shinkuro,” which indicates that it was made during the Genroku era. It is not surprising that this type of guardian dog was made in the Genroku era, since it is mentioned in the “Shinjo-guchiage” of the Kakiemon III period in the Sakaida family that “shi>mono” may refer to this type of guardian dog, and that other works were also made using Kakiemon ware as the main medium. Although this is a Genroku inscription, the shape of the komainu (guardian dogs) is ancient, and the fact that this is a special piece of komainu pottery suggests that similar pieces were made over a considerable period of time.