Japan, 19th century Finely modeled as the tanuki transforming into a teakettle, its four feet forming the supports for the vessel, the mouth wide open showing teeth and tongue, the kettle-form body with mock-ring handles, the foliate-lobed pierced cover surmounted by a shishi finial. LENGTH 11.6 cm, HEIGHT 10.3 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and firing flaws. Provenance: French private collection. The popular folktale Bunbuku-Chagama tells of a tanuki being mistreated as a teakettle at a temple, before being sold off and bringing great wealth to its new owner using its shapeshifting powers.