Large Japanese Daruma, Traditional Good-Luck Charm, 1980s

Dimensions: height 60 cm, width 60 cm, depth 45 cm.

On the front is the character 寿 (kotobuki), a wish for happiness and long life. In gold on one side is the phrase nanakorobi yaoki — “fall seven times, stand up eight” — a traditional saying about perseverance. On the other side is shōbai hanjō — “prosperity in business” — a well-known wish for shop owners and entrepreneurs.

Traditionally, a Daruma is used as a good-luck charm and a visual anchor for goals: you set an intention or wish and paint in one eye; once the goal is achieved, you paint in the second eye. That’s why Daruma are often found in homes, studios, and shops—as quiet motivation and a symbol of resilience.