Category: Japanese Art

First originating in Japan, the Lucky Cat is a common feline figurine that is believed to bring good luck and fortune to its owner. The figurine depicts a sitting cat, traditionally a calico Japanese Bobtail, beckoning with an upright paw. Known natively as Maneki Neko (招き猫), its name literally translates as “beckoning cat”. It is also sometimes called the Chinese Lucky Cat due to its popularity among Chinese merchants. Other common monikers include Fortune Cat, Money Cat, and Welcoming Cat.

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Traditional Japanese woodblock printmaking is a composite art form with a warmth and grace unlike any other print work. It combines the specialised knowledge of artists, printers and wood carvers. The woodcuts themselves are known as Ukiyo-e (literally: pictures of the modern world).

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