Adorable and expressive, this vintage Japanese hippo figurine was hand-carved from lightweight tuff stone and dates to around 1975–1985 (Mid-Showa Era). It features a big rounded snout, deep carved wrinkles, and bright hand-painted eyes – a perfect example of the whimsical style used by the MY artisan workshop.
On the underside you’ll find the original gold “HAND MADE IN JAPAN – MY” foil label, confirming its origin.
This vintage Japanese lion is hand-carved from lightweight tuff stone and dates to the Mid-Showa Era (about 1975–1985). The sculptor gave it a wonderfully stylized mane, squared snout, and big paw pads – a mix of folk-art charm and mid-century design.
The underside retains the original “HAND MADE IN JAPAN – MY” foil label.
From the estate of a millionaire family in Brentwood, Tennessee, this lion was purchased in Japan when the owners were living there and hand-selecting artwork from local craftspeople. It has lived in one elegant home ever since, part of a carefully chosen collection of Japanese art and décor.
Origin: Japan
Maker: MY Japan, original label
Era: approx 1975–1985 (Mid-Showa)
Material: Hand-carved tuff stone (lightweight volcanic stone)
Subject: Lion
Size: approx 3" x 3"
Provenance: Brentwood TN luxury estate; owners lived in Japan and collected Japanese art
Collectible traits: Showa-era Japanese folk art, hand carved stone, labeled maker, strong provenance
Very good vintage condition. Natural pitting and small irregularities from the stone itself; no major cracks or repairs seen. Clean and display ready.
Collectible because:
true vintage Showa-era Japanese craft
hand-carved stone, not resin
original maker label + provenance
unusual, character-rich design
These pieces come with excellent provenance. They were part of the décor in a millionaire home in Brentwood, Tennessee. The owners spent several years living in Japan in their early adult lives and personally hand-picked Japanese artwork and folk craft from small shops and galleries while stationed there. This set of animals was brought back from Japan and remained in that one high-end home for decades as part of their private collection.
The combination of era (Mid-Showa), material (tuff stone), maker (MY), and documented provenance makes this set especially collectible and valuable. Mid-Showa was a time when Japan’s economy was booming and many small artisan workshops produced imaginative export pieces in limited quantities. MY-marked stone animals don’t appear often, and full original trios are even harder to find.
This piece is a part of a set, listed separately. Display them together as a set on a bookshelf, console, or office shelf – they read as small pieces of sculpture, with a quirky, almost modernist charm.
Vintage, pre-owned condition consistent with age.
Natural stone pores, light surface wear and small irregularities typical of hand-carved tuff stone
No major cracks or repairs noted
Original gold MY Japan labels present on each figure
Colors and details are intact; clean and ready to display
Please review photos carefully – they are part of the description and show the unique stone texture and hand-worked details.
Ships USPS Priority Mail in a sturdy 7" x 7" x 6" box.
Each figure will be individually wrapped and double-padded to protect the lightweight stone from chipping. I pack very carefully, especially with vintage and collectible items.