Zodiac : Parent and Child Horse

• Depicts a parent horse with its foal, marking 2026, the Year of the Horse
• Oyako (parent-and-child) figures are a recognised theme in Japanese folk craft, traditionally made to wish for a child's healthy growth
• Hand-cast and hand-painted in Seto, not a mass-produced lucky figure
• Each face painted freehand, so no two figures match
• A meaningful gift for anyone marking their own zodiac year, or simply for the year of the horse

Pairing a smaller figure with a larger one is a established convention in Japanese folk craft, seen for example in oyako daruma, where the design carries wishes for safe childbirth and a child's growth. This horse follows the same convention, a parent and foal shown together rather than a single animal.

Horses have long been kept as household charms in Japan, believed to protect the family and carry good fortune, since they historically supported people through farming and travel.

As a zodiac figure rather than a New Year decoration, it holds the same meaning whether bought in January or November, the same way collectors building a full twelve-animal set buy pieces year-round.

The figure also isn't tied to the calendar year for most people. Anyone born in a previous horse year (2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954) reaches their "toshidoshi" (年男・年女) in 2026, the year their birth-zodiac comes back around. This is treated as a milestone year in Japanese tradition, historically linked to special roles in shrine rituals such as setsubun bean-throwing. The Japanese zodiac year doesn't end on December 31st. Tradition marks the turn at Setsubun, in early February, so 2026 is still the Year of the Horse until February.

Seto has served as a major Japanese pottery centre since the Heian period and was historically the sole domestic producer of glazed ceramics, which is why "setomono" became the standard Japanese term for pottery. Since the late 1800s, Seto's artisans have applied their expertise to ceramic dolls and figures using traditional methods: plaster mould casting, firing, and freehand hand-painting.

Material: Ceramic Size: 6.6 × 9.1 × 5.2 cm
Finish: Matte, hand-painted

Care note: The paint is applied after firing rather than glazed in, so keep this piece dry and handle it gently. 

Origin: Seto, Japan