{"product_id":"zodiac-horse-figurine-2026","title":"Lucky Horse Figurine, Yakushigama Ko-Yakushi Crackle Ceramic, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHand-decorated Ko-Yakushi crackle-glaze ceramic horse figurine by Yakushigama (薬師窯)\u003c\/strong\u003e — Year of the Horse 2026 (hinoeuma). Saddle blanket carries the auspicious 壽 (kotobuki, longevity) character. ~19 cm tall on its included black-lacquered wooden display stand. Arrives in original red lacquered Yakushigama presentation box.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe horse in Japanese symbolism\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2026 is hinoeuma 丙午, the Year of the Horse — the 7th of the twelve Japanese zodiac signs (eto 干支). In Japanese auspicious imagery, the horse symbolises vitality, strength, and forward momentum (前進 zenshin) — horses never move backward, making them a symbol of irreversible progress. The 壽 (kotobuki) character on the saddle blanket compounds vitality with the wish for long life, the standard pairing on New Year and milestone-birthday gift figurines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy Yakushigama and the 古薬師 (Ko-Yakushi) finish\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYakushigama is one of the major contemporary Japanese kilns producing auspicious figurines — maneki neko, zodiac figures, treasure boats. Their 古薬師 (Ko-Yakushi, \"Old-Yakushi\") line uses a controlled crackle-glaze formula that mimics aged Yakushi-yaki — a designed, intentional finish, not natural aging. The result reads \"heirloom\" rather than \"new\", which is exactly why collectors prefer this line for permanent display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow to display\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOn a console, mantel, or shelf as a 2026 Year-of-the-Horse statement piece\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn a tokonoma alcove with a New Year scroll\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn a home office facing the doorway — traditional feng shui placement for career-momentum\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAs a wedding-anniversary or milestone-birthday gift (the 壽 character is appropriate for kanreki 60th, koki 70th, kiju 77th, and beyond)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eIs the crackle damage or design?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's a designed, intentional finish — the kanyū 貫入 crackle network is created during firing as part of Yakushigama's Ko-Yakushi formula. The figurine is structurally fully intact. The crackle is in-glaze (surface only), not in-body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat does the saddle character mean?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e壽 (kotobuki \/ shou) means \"longevity, blessing, congratulations\". It is one of the most common auspicious characters in Japanese decorative arts, used on New Year, wedding, and milestone-birthday gifts. The character placement on the saddle blanket compounds the horse's vitality symbol with the longevity wish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eIs the wooden stand included?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. The black-lacquered oval wooden display stand (kuro-nuri kibadai 黒塗木台) is the original Yakushigama-supplied display piece for this figurine. The figurine sits on its ceramic base, which fits within the wooden stand's bracketed top. Both are included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhere is Yakushigama based?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYakushigama is a contemporary Japanese ceramics kiln producing auspicious-figurine work. The figurine was made in Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ZenKiln","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47487589155046,"sku":"L7-YAKUSHI-Y41-KO-HORSE-2026","price":109.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/5392\/5350\/files\/il_fullxfull.7586899551_69v8.jpg?v=1774622245","url":"https:\/\/zen-kiln.com\/en-gb\/products\/zodiac-horse-figurine-2026","provider":"ZenKiln","version":"1.0","type":"link"}