Tabby Lucky Cat with Sea Bream
This is a lucky cat, known as maneki neko in Japanese, holding a sea bream in one hand. In Japanese tradition, a white lucky cat symbolizes blessings and good fortune.
The pattern is painted using the mori-e technique, similar to slip trailing. A thick paint is squeezed out of an icchin, a dispenser with a fine tip, and carefully applied to create raised patterns. Mori-e adds both visual detail and a tactile texture to the smooth porcelain surface.
The tabby pattern is associated with warmth and prosperity. It is said that a cat with its right paw raised invites fortune and luck.
Sea bream has long been valued as a symbol of celebration and good fortune, making it a fitting companion for this lucky cat.
In the past, Japanese farmers who lived with cats were believed to prosper, as the cats kept rats away from their crops. Over time, this association with good fortune gave rise to the lucky cat, which is now widely known as a charm for financial success.
