Carving of a wooden toad with eyes inlaid in hard stone.

The toad or frog (kaeru) is associated with good luck and wealth. Kaeru means both “toad” or “frog” and “coming home” in Japanese. This extension of meaning is due to the toad’s ability to return each year to the pond of its birth. A gong in the shape of a toad can thus sometimes be used as a door hammer or to protect a house.

Japan – Taisho era (1912-1926)

Height: 3.5 in / 9.5 cm – width: 5.9 in / 15 cm – depth: 7.5 in / 19 cm