Couple of kappa, Seto sandstone, signed Hoshiai Shinrei (1901-1984)

This rare pair of kappa, Japanese mythological figures, was hand-modeled by Hoshiai Shinrei in the Seto kilns, probably between the 1930s and 1950s. The male kappa, in ochre stoneware, bears the full signature 星合信令, while the female, with a slightly opaline white glaze, is signed with the abbreviated seal 信令. These pieces belong to the period when the artist produced his famous guardian lions (shishi) and protective figures, before devoting himself from the 1960s onwards to his large Kannon statues dedicated to road safety.

Both kappas feature the characteristic hybrid attributes of these aquatic creatures: turtle shells, shiny skin, webbed limbs, and a head topped with a cavity symbolizing the water reservoir that gives them life. The expressive treatment of the faces, the discreet humor, and the spontaneity of the modeling testify to Shinrei's sense of observation and freedom of spirit.

In Japanese folklore, the kappa embodies the boundary between human and animal, the world of the living and that of the spirits. While sometimes mischievous, it also provides protection. The representation of a pair—a yellow male and a white female—is particularly rare and could evoke the balance of power or the duality of the elements.

Hoshiai Shinrei (1901-1984), a ceramicist and sculptor from the Owari region, worked his entire life at Seto, one of Japan's six ancient kilns. Known as "Shishi no Shinrei" for his monumental lions, he left behind a body of work deeply rooted in Japanese popular culture. His studio, the Dainichi Kiln (大日窯), produced pieces modeled using traditional techniques, often intended for shrines or public spaces. In 2024, a major retrospective at the Owari-Asahi Cultural Center paid tribute to him, recalling the richness of his universe between folk art and spirituality.

Height: 20 cm (female kappa, white glaze); 19 cm (male kappa, ochre glaze).
Some minor age-related accidents.