This dorei (土鈴) clay bell features a white rat cheerfully posed beside a decorative coin bag, embodying auspicious symbolism and traditional Japanese craftsmanship. The rat, or nezumi (鼠), is a zodiac animal associated with cleverness, prosperity, and new beginnings. In the context of folk beliefs and Eto (干支) zodiac figures, the rat is often revered as a harbinger of wealth and fertility.
Delicately hand-painted, the rat has a joyful expression and is adorned with touches of gold and green—colors that traditionally signify abundance and good fortune. Beside it rests a stylized treasure bag (kinka-bukuro), vividly painted with red and white plum blossoms and finished with gold accents, suggesting overflowing blessings. The design implies that the rat is protecting or delivering wealth and happiness.
The piece functions as a clay bell, with a pleasant, soft chime when gently shaken. Such dorei are often sold as lucky charms during New Year’s or as gifts to mark a new chapter, such as the birth of a child or the start of a business.
Altogether, this delightful rat-and-coin bag bell is both a playful ornament and a symbolic token of luck, making it a meaningful piece of Japanese folk art.
