porcelain wall sculpture Turtle MINOGAME, cobalt blue (Kopia)

My wall turtles carry a rather extraordinary story.
They were created from an old, japenese sweets mold for sweets.

When I travelled to my dream destination – Japan – I knew I wanted to bring back something old, something with a soul. And if I was lucky, a kashigata – a hand-carved wooden mold for traditional sweets, which I wanted to hung on my wall.

I managed to find them in only one place: at a flea market in Kyoto.
They were stuffed into cardboard boxes, and I had to take each one out, open it, and check what shape was hidden inside.

One turtle came back with me – although at first I wasn’t sure why it had such a long coat… or tail.

Only later, in my hotel room, did I understand:it wasn’t a coat at all, but seaweed growing on the shell of a Minogame – a turtle that symbolizes longevity and prosperity in Japanese culture.

I was deeply moved. Not only had I chosen a beautiful, marine turtle motif, but one with such a meaningful symbolism.
And so the wooden turtle travelled home in my suitcase, wrapped in old Japanese newspapers.

Only after returning to my studio did I realize that I could try to cast it in porcelain.
After several failed attempts and many experiments – it finally worked.

Now the turtle has its own plaster mold. It is born from it, then carefully retouched and glazed.
After firing at 1250°C, it is ready to begin its new journey… to you?

You can hang my turtle on your wall – let it delight with its beauty and remind you of holidays, the sea, and summer.
Or let it become a symbol of a future journey?
Or perhaps you will gift it to someone you sincerely wish all the good things in the world – for as long as possible.

Dimensions: approx. 10.5 cm (4.1 in) in length.

The turtles are available in four colors: celadon, cobalt, blue, sand (matte, made of stoneware not porcelain)

Each turtle has a hanging loop on the back for wall display.
Every piece comes with a small card telling its story and symbolism – making it a beautiful and meaningful gift.