Item Description A charming three-piece collection of Japanese bronze okimono, each finely modelled after a creature associated with longevity, prosperity, and the sea: a hermit crab, a coin-shelled turtle, and a goldfish. The hermit crab is a fine example of jizai okimono, a Japanese metalworking tradition in which animals are built from articulated sections that move naturally, originally developed by armour-makers (katchūshi) who applied their skills to decorative work once demand for armour declined. Its bronze shell separates cleanly from the body, and the segmented abdomen beneath is fully articulated, moving smoothly just as it would on a living hermit crab. The underside of the tail bears a stamped mark reading "銅虫" (tentatively read Dōchū), presumed to be a maker's or workshop mark. The coin-shelled turtle (zenigame) takes the form of a censer (kōro): its domed shell, built up from overlapping stylised antique coin motifs and pierced throughout, lifts away to reveal a hollow bowl for burning incense, its coin-and-turtle imagery carrying connotations of both longevity and prosperity. The goldfish is cast with a flowing, veiled tail and finely textured scales, a favourite motif in Japanese decorative art traditionally used both as an okimono and as an item of tea ceremony equipment, such as a lid rest (futaoki). All three share the same rich, dark bronze patina and meticulous naturalistic detailing, and were photographed together on a piece of coral for scale and presentation (the coral is not included). A delightful trio for any collector of Japanese bronze art or jizai okimono. Size Hermit crab (Yadokari): Length 9.6 cm / Width 7.7 cm / Height 3.8 cm Coin-shell turtle (Zenigame Kōro): Height 4.5 cm / Length 8.3 cm / Width 6.2 cm Goldfish (Kingyo): Height 2.8 cm / Length 8.1 cm / Width 6.2 cm Weight Hermit crab: 184 g Turtle: 162 g Goldfish: 80 g Total: 426 g / 0.426 kg Condition All three pieces are in excellent condition. The hermit crab's shell separates cleanly from the body and its articulated abdomen moves smoothly as designed; the turtle and goldfish are both unused, with no chips, cracks, or damage. Artist Profile Jizai okimono ("freely moving ornaments") are a distinctively Japanese form of metalwork in which animals, insects, and sea creatures are built from multiple articulated bronze or iron sections that move like their living counterparts. The tradition is believed to have originated with katchūshi, armour and helmet makers who turned their metalworking skills to decorative sculpture as demand for armour declined through the Edo and Meiji periods; crabs were, and remain, one of the most popular subjects of the genre, alongside dragons, snakes, and lobsters, and are held in major museum collections including the Tokyo National Museum. The hermit crab in this lot is stamped with a mark reading "銅虫" (tentatively read Dōchū), presumed to identify its maker or workshop, though further details could not be confirmed. The turtle and goldfish bear no legible signature, but share such closely comparable style, patina, and quality of casting with the hermit crab that a common workshop origin seems likely. Notice Please note the following before purchasing. The photos may show flowers, plants, corals, pedestals, etc. as examples of decorations and interior design for illustrative purposes, but please note that these are not included in the product. The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by DHL, FedEx or Japan Post depending on the situation. Please note that we may use recycled cardboard boxes for outer packaging. It takes about 2–3 weeks to receive normally. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please note that as of 1 July 2026, the EU has abolished the de minimis customs exemption. All shipments to EU countries are now subject to import duties and VAT regardless of the declared value of the goods. For shipments with a declared value under €150, an additional customs processing fee (from around €3) may also apply, and further minor charges may be added depending on the destination country. Sometimes Customs or the delivery company in your country may contact you for Customs clearance via phone or email. Please make sure that you can answer the phone. If you don't, the parcel will be returned to us and it costs more than double the shipping fee for reshipping. We do appreciate your kind cooperation.