Maneki Neko Luck Cat - Ultra Miniature Ceramic Japanese on eBay (end time 29-Oct-09 08:02:45 GMT)


This listing has ended. Item:Maneki Neko Luck Cat - Ultra Miniature Ceramic Japanese

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Maneki Neko Luck Cat - Ultra Miniature Ceramic Japanese

Description

This incredibly tiny hand-made ceramic Maneki Neko figure (the smallest we have ever seen) weighs in at only 1 gram and is almost too small to properly photograph! Despite its diminutive size the little kitty is well crafted with special attention paid to the delicate facial features. The tiny statue appears to have seen some use in the past and has a few equally tiny scratches and scuff marks but is otherwise in excellent condition. The figure is less than five years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji. Please click here to see more ULTRA MINIATURE Maneki Neko available for sale within our eBay store The Old Tokaido.

Size:
Height: 0.6 inches (1.6 centimeters)
Weight: 0.04 ounces (1 grams)

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Maneki Neko - Japan's Beckoning Luck Cat

Japanese legend holds that long ago an emperor was traveling on horseback when he spotted a small cat waving at him. After the emperor dismounted from his horse to get a closer look the horse was struck by lightning and killed. Subsequently, the emperor pronounced that cats in general should be respected as sacred animals and thus was born the legend of the beckoning Maneki Neko. This is just one of several popular tales regarding the origin of Japan's most famous cat.

Today in Japan you are likely to spot a Maneki Neko figure waving at you from within just about every Japanese place of business. The legendary kitty has been transformed from an emperor saving Samaritan to a bringer of money and good fortune to all Japanese. There are basically three types of Maneki Neko: The first and oldest type is waving a single paw in an effort to attract people to it (just like the emperor's savior). Another newer version (yet still likely centuries old) is a Maneki Neko waving one paw while holding an old fashioned Japanese coin in the other paw. This second type is thought to bring wealth to its owner. The final type of Maneki Neko is a modern version which waves both paws. Still further variations exist with additional meaning even ascribed to such things as the color and pattern of the coat. Maneki Neko are usually ceramic and are often used as piggy banks. Piggy bank Maneki Neko will have a slot in their back to receive coins and a hole in the bottom for their removal. Many modern Maneki Neko are purely decorative (no piggy bank) and may be made of papier-mache or cloth in addition to the traditional ceramic styles. To learn more, please visit our About Japan page and look for the feature titled Maneki Neko Corner. This special section of our website is dedicated exclusively to all things Maneki Neko and includes additional information as well as interesting photos of authentic Maneki Neko in use in Japan today.

More photos below!

item code: INV-0000112_11 CER-0000244
category code: (JM)
ship code: ENV

Payment

I accept the following forms of payment:

ProPay
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Shipping & Handling

Please see the Store Policies section for additional information.

US Shipping

$9.88 Airmail to USA
$14.86 EMS Express to USA

International Shipping

$10.42 Airmail to rest of world
$16.24 EMS Express to rest of world

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Store Policies

Satisfaction Guarantee

We really want you to be happy with your purchase! For this reason all items include a 100% money back guarantee. If you are unsatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase immediately for a full refund. Your purchase and all shipping costs will then be refunded to you after the item has been returned to our office in Japan. Please see our Contact page if you need to reach us for any reason.

Shipping and Insurance

Please see our Shipping page for full details regarding shipping rates, available shipping methods and combined shipping discounts. All shipments are via Japan Post standard airmail or Express Mail Service (EMS) airmail. EMS airmail includes a tracking number and is typically faster than standard airmail. Please note that we do not use less secure shipping methods such as surface or SAL delivery due to the higher incidence of loss, damage and significant delay which we have previously encountered using these methods. Your understanding and consideration prior to bidding is greatly appreciated. We ship anywhere and happily combine orders to help you save money. We carefully weigh and measure each item prior to listing in order to determine that item's actual shipping cost. This allows us to then include a shipping quote within each listing which is sufficient to cover postage and handling costs to any address worldwide. Purchases are carefully packed and shipped within 72 hours of receipt of payment though holidays and weekends may cause additional delay. Standard airmail delivery to addresses in North America and Europe average one to three weeks with more or less time sometimes required for other areas of the world. International buyers should be aware of the laws of their own country and be prepared to deal with any and all customs-related fees and charges. Taxes, duties, VAT and any other levies accessed are the responsibility of the buyer. We self insure the full purchase value of each order.

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Shopping with us is easy. Buy one item or shop for several days. There is never any hurry and we are happy to hold purchases while you continue shopping. Within 24 hours of the close of each transaction you will be sent an invoice including instructions to help you complete your purchase. When you pay for your purchase we will begin the shipment process. Please do not make payments for any individual items you wish us to combine as we are unable to combine items once payment has been received. When you are all done shopping please just send us an email to let us know and we will combine your unpaid purchases into a single order and send you an invoice with combined shipping. PayPal and ProPay are our preferred methods of payment.

Listing Photography

Please note that we frequently use photographic models with our listings. This means that when we create a new listing we will randomly select from inventory a sample of the item for the purpose of photography. The item you receive therefore may differ slightly from the sample shown in the listing photos. Your satisfaction guarantee however is always in force and we will promptly refund or replace the item if you are not pleased with your purchase. Please contact us to ask if a model was used with any listing you may be interested in.

Interested in Japan?

Our family business is located in one of the most beautiful and historic areas of Japan (Shizuoka) and we take great pleasure in sharing videos, stories, facts and images from this exciting and interesting culture. Please consider visiting our About Japan page where you can read our exclusive articles about Japan, Japanese culture and even our recommended travel itinerary for those considering a visit to the land of the rising sun.

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