Antique Sleeping Cat Nemuri Neko Kutani Imari Porcelain Cat Japan Gilded

Large Antique Japanese Kutani Nemuri Neko Gilded Sleeping Cat Porcelain Sculpturecirca 1910Gold gilded black catHand painted Antique Japanese Kutani sculpture of a sleeping cat in fine porcelain from Meiji period, inspired by the small wooden sculpture at the entrance of Toshougu shrine in Nikko, Japan, by the highly acclaimed sculpture artist and architect Hidari Jingoro. The wooden sculpture is recognized as a national treasure. It is called nemuri neko, meaning sleeping cat or peaceful cat, representing a kind of peace that allows a cat to have an ease of mind to sleep with its guards off.