Wooden Temple Entrance With Two Terracotta Kitsune. Japan Edo

Sculpture - Inari. Symbolized by a pair of Japanese fox - Shinto kami. The foxes are represented seated on pedestals and take their place in a sort of painted wooden temple entrance door. Japan late Edo (1603-1868) 19th century. Dimensions of the wooden shelter: 24 cm x 25 cm. Dimensions of foxes: 14 cm x 6.5 cm. Inari is one of the main kami of Shintoism, mainly associated with agriculture, revered to protect the rice fields and provide an abundant harvest, a symbol of fertility. Japanese foxes - Kitsune, are closely related to Inari, often seen as messengers or guardians of the kami. The Kitsune, generally male and female, are represented with symbolic attributes in the mouth.