Vintage Hand Carved Wooden Japanese Maneki Neko Good Fortune Beckoning Cats

Vintage Antique Hand Carved Wooden Japanese Maneki Neko Good Fortune Beckoning Cats Cats are revered in Japan as they are considered to bring good luck. They are called 'maneki-neko' (welcoming cats). The Maneki-neko, or "beckoning cat," is a popular Japanese figurine often believed to bring good luck and fortune to its owner. Its origin traces back to the Edo period (17th-19th century). Business owners even put cat figurines in front of their shops in hope that the moving paw will bring in customers.Each color has a different meaning, so that a white is the most standard one believed to "bring and invite good luck", a black means "warding off evil" as a protective charm. This beautiful antique pair is extremely rare and hard to find in this shape, style, and size. Hand carved from a lightweight wood, these two cats are expertly crafted, detailed, and hand painted from their front to their sides and their backs. Approximately 6 inches tall. Tiny nick to the ear of the light cat. Excellent vintage condition, overall. Japanese culture, Japanese Good Luck Cats, Beckoning Cats, Feng Shui