Ironic, isn’t it? Japan is supposed to be the dangerous place to be, but in the days since I left New Jersey, the East Coast has had an earthquake and is now facing a major hurricane. To escape my Irene worries, I did the one thing that can take my mind off anything – I went to a shrine sale – and a fabulous one at that. It was an extremely hot and steamy day at Kawagoe today, but my favorite form of retail therapy did its magic. I have a proper post on the day coming, but in the meantime, I am throwing out a challenge to my readers. Can you guess what this object is?
The pattern is the well known shippou-tsunagi (seven treasures pattern), decorating Japanese textiles, porcelain, furniture and just about anything.
And while we are at it, in an incredibly modern form – digital furniture design – on this walnut desk by Laszlo Beckett. I have been drooling over this for a while!
But what do you use the object for? Leave your guess in the comments. The correct answer wins a small prize! Here’s a hint of the prize to get your brain going…
Is it a weight to hold down a fishing net? I too love the pattern.
a decoration on a roof of shrine or temple?
A tool used to “brand” the design on wood (by heating it)?
To hold flowers for ikebana?
Julie, you were one of 4 correct answers, so a winner was chosen randomly from a hat and it is you! I need to get your pair of vintage Japanese fishing floats to you. Let’s arrange via email.
Is it used in Japanese Gardens? I would use it as a trivet.
Great guess, but it is a flower arranging frog (kenzan) for ikebana. The trivet idea is a fabulous one!! Thanks for your comment!
something to do with sweet potatoes or putting out fires?? I’m thinking about what I remember of Kawagoe………..and a great pickle dish I bought
Stencil?
Ikibana arranging stand!!!
You were one of 4 correct answers so the prize winner was selected randomly out of a hat. So sorry, but it was not you….Thanks so much for your comment!
An architectural block to set into a wall? Hope all is well in New Jersey…but a diversion of retail therapy is excellent.
Great guess, but it is a flower arranging frog (kenzan) for ikebana. All is fine in NJ. Thanks for your comment!
Hi Jacqueline, been thinking of you all day long, I truly hope your beautiful home survived! I was thinking along the line of Lisa’s answer, some kind of decorative tile for a roof? Kawagoe or any shrine sale would have been a welcome distraction for me too today (Oedo was today I believe, my hubby is in Japan at the moment and visited our apartment building and my friend on our front desk, Kudo-san actually told him to go there today to buy something for me, can you believe it?) Only 2 and a half weeks before we get our home back, already planning bathroom renovations etc 🙂
Great guess, but it is a flower arranging frog (kenzan) for ikebana. Thanks for your comment!
And let me know if there is anything you decide you “forgot” to buy!!!
Template for quilts? but maybe it should be bigger?
A bit difficult to determine…My best guest is a concrete stamp….used to transfer the image into the concrete/stone.
Are you going to use this as a door stop?
Wish I could have participated in that retail therapy trip with you!
Great guess, but it is a flower arranging frog (kenzan) for ikebana. Too small for a doorstop, but it is making a great paperweight. Thanks for your comment!
My guess is a hibachi stand…
Is it a mold?
Great guess, but it is a flower arranging frog (kenzan) for ikebana. Thanks for your comment!
Hi there! This is a kind of “kenzan” for ikebana… good for sturdy stems like irises! Thank you for a great blog/newsletter! I have been following you for about a year. We just moved to Spain this summer after having lived in Tokyo over 7 years. I so much miss the shrine sales…but there are good “rastros” here in Spain too… Will continue reading your letters with pleasure and nostalgia! Best, Andrea
Thanks Andrea, You were one of the correct answers, but I had to chose just one prize winner out of a hat and it was not you. Thanks so much for your comment and best of luck in Spain! I am sure I would enjoy a good rastro!!!
According to my mum – who actually has a few of them as decorative pieces – they were originally used to hold flowers in the bottom of vases. (Note that she was kind enough to help me even though she is day 4 without power….)
Kristen, I can offer you (and your mum) the satisfaction of being correct! But there were 3 other correct answers so I had to chose the prize winner out of a hat. Unfortunately, it wasn’t you!
It is a flower frog called a kenzan used for ikebana! There were 4 correct replies (Julie, Wendy, Andrea and Kristen) so I put the names in a hat and drew a winner – Julie Fukuda you are the proud owner of 2 vintage fishing floats….Thanks to everyone who entered!