Yokogi or ornamental adjuster for a hearth hanger, in the form of a large carp swimming with an open mouth revealing lines of pointed teeth. Carved of keyaki or zelkova wood with a hammered iron fitting which echoes the carp’s teeth. Probably from Hokuriku in Western Honshu. Edo period, 18th century.

Only faint traces of the black encrustation with which long use covered the fish remain. When the Mingei or Japanese Folk Craft movement began in the early 20th century, collectors began to appreciate the rich patinations created by soot and cooking oils. Polishing away the dirt revealed beautiful color.

Very few yokogi were carved on this scale. Modest in scale, most minka farm houses only contained smaller hearth hangers. This fish swam beneath a large roof over a central hearth, its watery associations auspicious protection against destructive fires, its sculptural naturalism in sharp contrast to the restraint of mud walls, wood beams, the geometry of paper and wood.

Carp also speak to the literati Chinese and Japanese tradition of the fish climbing waterfalls, images of persistence and strength, as the children of the house were encouraged to study and work hard, succeeding in life not just for themselves but for the family.

Powerfully rendered, this carp draws our eyes as the anonymous carver intended. The strong stylized lines of the head and lips contrast with the textured scales of the body, the elegant ribs of the tail. Unusually large, it glows with long use, long the central image in a proud and affluent house. It remains a rare and beautiful example of Japanese folk art.