A large Japanese hearth hook, jizai, of keyaki (zelkova) wood. The Daikoku type hook, so named for its resemblance to Daikoku’s (God of Good Fortune’s) hat, would have originally hung from a ceiling beam over the sunken hearth, irori, for suspension of a kettle or pot above the fire. As much symbolic as functional the overly large hook was meant to be a symbol of the family’s prosperity and stability. The hook with fine color and areas of patina from exposure to smoke, particularly where access for cleaning was difficult. With suspension pegs and deep groove where the kettle’s rope passed through the hook. With contemporary wood stand.
Early 20th century
Without base: 21” high x 19” wide x 8¼” thick (12” wide with projecting pins)
