Red Snail with Seven Fans for Good Fortune
As we approach one of the most touching Japanese holidays, Shichi-Go-San (七五三), I want to share a special work: the “Snail with Seven Fans” netsuke.
This festival is dedicated to the healthy growth and well-being of children, and it honors auspicious numbers—especially the number seven (七). It is this number that has become the very soul of this composition.
This netsuke is a true ‘engimono’ (縁起物)—a good luck charm, a talisman filled with deep symbolism:
The Snail, in Japanese culture, symbolizes patience, perseverance, and steady, deliberate progress toward a goal. It never retreats and always carries its “home,” also embodying prosperity and protection. It is a charm for deliberate and certain success.
The Red Color is a primary color of celebration, joy, and festivity. It symbolizes vital energy and serves as a powerful ward against misfortune.
The fan itself is a powerful symbol. Its shape, spreading from a single point, represents a blossoming life, the unfolding of talents, and a bright, expansive future. The number seven greatly amplifies this wish, invoking good fortune in all its forms and recalling the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin).
The snail rests on an elegant rose petal. It is adorned with fine red veins of Urushi lacquer and the delicate shimmer of golden Nashiji flakes, adding a note of beauty and refinement to the entire composition.
The theme continues harmoniously onto the kiribako—the precious box for storing the netsuke. Its lid is also adorned with the seven lucky fans, completing this ensemble of good fortune.
May this piece become a cherished talisman for its owner on their path to prosperity!
With its bright, festive color and powerful wishes for luck and prosperity, this netsuke also makes a wonderful and deeply meaningful gift for the New Year or a birthday.
7 fans – 7 different technicues of Maki-e: 1.Eggshell – Rankaku. 2.On the blue Urushi I painted blue waves and sprinkled them with silver Nashiji – tsukegaki. 3.On a black fan, I made stripes of katagami using a silver Nashiji, on top of a bamboo branch painted with gold Marufun. 4. I drew peonies on the pieces of mother-of-pearl – mijingai oki ji and sprinkled them with gold Nashiji flakes. 5.Ducks on a silver background made with tin powder – suzu using Sumie togidashi technique 6.”Deer skin” – kanoko – large silver Hiramefun coarse circles on the gold Nashiji flakes. 7.On the secon black fan I added gold Nashiji flakes. Snail dimensions: height 4.6 cm, length 4.2 cm. Red braided cord. A white rose petal with red veins is the stage for the dance of the snail with fans. The petal is carved from a piece of mammoth tusk, red Urushi and silver Hiramefun, 6.3 cm x 5.8 cm. Published in the International Netsuke Society Journal, volume 42, number 2.
This original artwork is available for purchase.
To acquire this piece, please click the envelope icon (✉️) at the top of the page to contact me directly. I will provide an invoice and arrange the details.
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Shipping: Your artwork will be shipped worldwide via DHL Express courier.
Delivery: Estimated delivery time is 2-5 business days. A tracking number will be provided.
Delivery: Estimated delivery time is 2-5 business days. A tracking number will be provided.