Haniwa male figure wearing a hat

We would like to introduce some adorable Haniwa Terra-cotta Tomb sculpture.
▶︎Click here for more information about Haniwa Terra-cotta Tomb Figures

The statue has a small face with long, narrow eyes and a small mouth. It has the appearance of a boy. The side of the head is tied in an "Age-mizura" style, a hairstyle common to men at the time. The figure is strikingly adorned with a cap-like hat and a twisted headband.

Judging from the costume, the person appears to have been a farmer or horse driver. Small balls of clay remain around the person's neck, indicating that the person was wearing the necklace as an ornament.

The slightly reddish clay is a color typical of Kanto region (inc. Saitama, Gunma and Tochigi prefectures) . Comb marks from the molding process can also be seen.

As you know, Haniwa sculptures are representative cultural artifacts of the Kofun period(3rd to 6th centuries AD).

Its origins date back to the time when keyhole-shaped tumuli first appeared around the 3rd century, but initially they were limited to jars containing offerings and pedestals on which to place them.

As time passed, figurative Haniwa such as house and animal figures began to be made, and from the latter half of the 5th century to the 6th century, a wide variety of human figures began to be made. In the 7th century, Haniwa disappeared along with the disappearance of keyhole-shaped tumuli.

There is a wide variety of Haniwa figures, including maidens, samurai, sumo wrestlers, farmers, musicians, and others, each with their own unique costumes and belongings. It is known that these figures were erected in groups on or around the tombs where powerful people are buried, or on the banks near the tombs.

Numerous Haniwa figures were created over just over 200 years, driven by the extraordinary energy of ancient people. Even today, separated by a long time, many people are drawn to their human-like figures and uniqueness.

Above all, that expression.

This male statue also has a simple, natural face that is neither smiling nor angry. It has a natural expression... It has a mysterious charm that makes you stare blankly at it.

Haniwa are interesting historical figures that tell us about ancient societies, but when you look at their simple expressions, you get a strange feeling that humans never change, no matter what the era.

This Haniwa figure is very popular in the market, but we were able to successfully procure it this time, so we have been able to keep the price down. We would recommend this piece to Haniwa lovers and those who have just discovered the charm of Haniwa.