An Old Hand Painted Ko Ema: Curious Depiction of the Lower Body

early to mid twentieth century
4 5/8" x 5 1/4", 11.5 cm x 13.5 cm

This is a charming, hand painted wooden tablet showing the lower body of a kimono-clad person dangling from behind a maku or a kind of bunting fabric.

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 said to be a petition for help with maladies of the lower body, legs and feet. Its swift painting and its limited palette of colors is expected for this kind of hand painted, rustic ema--and the image is charming, mysterious and powerful.

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

Recommended.