Free standard shipping for orders above $100 (local) $250 (worldwide)

Free standard shipping for orders above $100 (local) and $250 (worldwide)

Watch out for hidden easter egg surprises on our instagram channel!🤫

Your cart

Your cart is empty

MANEKI NEKO? WHAT'S THAT?

MANEKI NEKO? WHAT'S THAT?

The maneki neko, or “beckoning cat,” is a common Japanese figurine that is believed to bring good luck and fortune to its owner. (Believe it or not, the cat isn't waving.) The figurine typically depicts a calico Japanese Bobtail cat with an inviting paw raised in a beckoning gesture, which is said to invite customers or prosperity into businesses. (The meaning changes depending on which paw is raised: the right paw attracts money and good fortune; the left invites friendship and customers.)

The origins of the maneki neko are uncertain, but there are several legends surrounding its creation. One popular story tells of a poor monk who was taking shelter from a storm under a tree when he saw a cat beckoning him to come closer. As he approached, lightning struck the tree he had been standing under, and the monk realized that the cat had saved his life. In gratitude, he created the first maneki neko statue to honour the cat’s beckoning gesture.
Regardless of its precise origin story, the reason for their prevalence seems to be linked to their real-life analogs. In 1602, an imperial decree set free all cats in Japan, intending to capitalize on the felines’ natural ability for pest control, especially in the sericulture community where silk was produced. After the decline of the silk trade, cats by extension remained as talismans for a business’s prosperity. It goes beyond pest control — it’s taking care of the cat that reaps the rewards. There is a deep-rooted, almost mythological, belief in the power of cats: look after them, and they’ll look after you.
Today, the beckoning feline figurines can be found in a variety of colours and styles and are often displayed in shops, restaurants, and homes as a symbol of good luck and good fortune.

Lucky Olive's logo features a Japanese lucky cat, maneki neko, with its right paw raised in the traditional beckoning gesture. In its left paw, it holds a gold bar adorned with a purple seashell containing a perfectly round pearl. The background is adorned with purple olives and their branches, creating a visually striking and symbolic design. In feng shui philosophy, the colour purple is considered to be a royal colour and is often associated with abundance, luxury, and material wealth. Purple is also a shade of spiritual development and enlightenment. It represents a connection to higher realms and can help promote intuition and inner wisdom. The gold bar and pearl represent the materials we mostly use in our jewelry, and the olives stand for Olivia, the founder's daughter and origin of the brand name. It may go through face lifts in the future, but the five pillars that make up our logo will never change.

-

Fun FactIn the U.S., those down on their luck can venture to Ohio’s Lucky Cat Museum in Cincinnati, which features over 2,000 iterations of the feline icon.

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published