Vintage Ichii Itto-bori Wood Zodiac Sheep (Hitsuji) Carving by Ryoho

Dimension: 3-1/4”h x  2-0”w x 4-0”l

This is a Japanese vintage Ichii Itto-bori wood zodiac animal carving from the 1960s. This piece has beautiful detailing of a stocky sheep with a thick torso and stubby tail. The most noticeable feature is the pronounced horns and sweet face. It was crafted by and signed on the underside by Ryoho, who worked in the Hida Takayama area of Gifu Prefecture.

This piece is made of Japanese cedar, which is from the mountain areas of the Hida Province, and exemplifies the perfect combination of hardness and oiliness, with an especially fine grain, producing an exquisite surface when carved and polished. The wood is reddish and has a beautifully carved form. The piece has Ryoho’s Japanese Katakana (signature) on the underside. 

Vintage Condition: Excellent, “as is” and retains the original craft/workmanship. No discoloration, chipping/cracking, surface wear, or structural damage is noted. 

NOTE: Sheep (hitsuji) — Born 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931, 1919, 1907. People born in the year of the Sheep are elegant, highly accomplished in the arts, and passionate about nature. At first glance, they seem to be better off than the people born in other years. They are deeply religious and passionate about whatever they do and believe in.