A Weathered Ko Ema: Hand Painted Shinto Votive

early to mid twentieth century
3 1/2" x 4 1/2", 9 cm x 11.5 cm

This is a charming, hand painted wooden tablet showing depictions of two fearsome looking protector demons, one with red toned skin, the other with blue toned skin.

This painted plaque is known as a ko ema.  

An ema is a votive tablet offered by an individual to a Shinto temple either in petition for a favor or in thanks for a favor received.  

Some ema can be very large and hand painted.  They can depict battle scenes, sailing ships or other elaborate images.  Ko ema are small hand painted votives which were mass-produced by itinerant painters who would sell the goods on roads leading to, or in front of, a shrine.

This particular ema is dark in color and is low in contrast: it is hard to make out the image which, in the case of these two protector demons, adds to the mystique.

A wonderful, collectible and particularly well-painted and colored ema with rustic, spirited appeal.

Recommended.