Rare Pair of Pottery Kitsunes of Inari Okami Shrine Meiji Period

On offer is a pair of Japanese kitsune statues on plinth made from molded pottery. In Japanese Shinto religion and folklore, kitsune (fox) is a spirited animal that represents a wide range of concepts depending on the context. They tend to be intelligent and fertile, cunning sometimes and their wisdom increases with age, so as the numbers of their tails. In Shinto religion, they serve as the messengers for Inari Okami, the god for agriculture and industry such as rice, tea, sake and other crops and it is extended to the general prosperity and financial success. As deities themselves, they are often being worshipped as well. Found in pairs flanking the altar or sanctuary, these kitsunes can be made from bronze, wood, stone, or in this case, pottery. The Inari shrine is known for its vermillion-colored torii gates. The best-known Inari shrine is Fushimi Inari-Taish, located in Kyoto, which features close to 1000 torii gates.
This pair of Kitsune statues is rather rare, as an intact pair of impressive size and fine workmanship. Made from molded clay, the male and the female sit in mirrored position on matching plinth with their bushy tails and large ears upright. One holds a ball in the mouth, which represents integrity, while the other a scroll or a key, which represents prosperity. The rendering of these animals is full of folky charm. The statues were painted originally, but being outdoors, only residues of the color remain. It also appears that the patina on the surface may have been preserved by selection approaches.
The measurement for each is 21.75" x 9.75" w x 7.25" d.