The Hō-ō Rug is a custom shaped rug designed after the Chinese Phoenix, or hō-ō, as it is known in Japanese. Hō-ō are mythological birds which symbolize the celestial bodies: sun, sky, moon, wind, earth and the planets, believed to appear in places of utmost peace, prosperity and happiness. In the dynastic eras, the Chinese phoenix represented power sent from the heavens to the Empress, and exemplified virtue and grace. In modern Asian culture, hō-ō can be found in decorations for weddings or royalty, along with the dragon, with the dragon-and-phoenix (
龍鳳;
龙凤) design symbolic of a fruitful marriage blessed with success, blissful harmony, and many offspring.
The rug is hand-tufted from 100% New Zealand wool. Rug pile is of a level height throughout the rug, and in a cut pile except for the tail feathers, which are highlighted in a loop pile as pictured.
This rug is longer and slimmer than the CARP-et! which would make for a beautiful feature piece in a wider space, such as in a living room in front of a sofa, or hung on the wall like a tapestry.
Please note: this is a pre-order; as these rugs are made by hand, we do not have them in stock. Orders are an intentional process, and the wait time for the rug is expected to be 8-10 weeks from the date pre-orders close. Please only order if you are comfortable with this timeline.
*April 2023 update: Pre-orders will close on Monday 17 April 2023, or when quantity limit is reached. Delivery is expected in late July/early August 2023.
* April 2023 update: Pre-orders are now closed as the quantity limit has been reached.
*May 2023 update: Rugs have now come off the loom, and are ready for finishing checks.
*July 2023 update: Thank you for your patience! Rugs will be sent out the week beginning 31 July.
All rugs have now been sent out; please email hello@kingyokintsugi.com if you have yet to receive your tracking email!
Artist's note
The form of the hō-ō rug is inspired by a carving from the Kashio Shrine's main hall in Sakai, Japan. The colours are gleaned from the colour palettes of various Japanese temples. In my style of tattooing, hō-ō are arguably one of the more painstaking and complicated creatures to design. It was challenging and fun attempting to distill that form and detail into a medium that doesn't follow the rules of tattooing!
Art is, by some definition, impractical. The tattoos I make have no functional purpose, but hold value in being a created work that is aesthetically appealing to both artist and wearer. Tattoos tend to be a more private and personal form of art; I am hoping that large, beautiful irezumi-style rugs will be a more open way of sharing an appreciation of the art form.
Details
This product is a custom shaped rug. Please note that you are pre-ordering a rug that will be made by hand for you, with a 8-10 week lead time.
April 2023 pre-order: Expected delivery July 2023.
Please note that discount codes are not valid for gift cards or for items on pre-order.
Rug details
Material: 100% hand-tufted New Zealand wool of 2.99kg/m2 pile weight, finished with third cotton backing
Technique: cut pile except for loop pile within tail feathers, serged edging
Dimensions: approximately 3125mm L x 830mm W, with total area approximately 2.60m2
Weight: approximately 7.8kg
Package details
Dimensions: 750mm L x 350mm W x 120mm H
Weight: approximately 8.5kg when packaged
Shipping
The rug will ship via Australia Post. Standard shipping costs are estimated to be as such:
STANDARD SHIPPING | ESTIMATED RATES |
Domestic Australia | $24.55 to $108.85 depending on state/zone |
International Zone 1 New Zealand | $101.95 |
International Zone 2 Asia Pacific | $148.50 |
International Zone 3 USA and Canada | $169.60 |
International Zone 4 UK and Europe | $188.50 |
International Rest of World | $247.10 |
These are estimates only; actual shipping costs will be reflected at checkout once the delivery address has been filled. We also offer express shipping for domestic orders only (do note that express shipping applies to the time your order is in the hands of Australia Post - the wait time of 8-10 weeks for the rug to be made still applies).
Taxes
If you live within Australia, you will not be taxed on your order, as we ship orders from Melbourne.
Every other country's policy on import duties, customs and taxes is different. Please be informed of your country's policies on importing goods from overseas, as usually, orders over a certain threshold will be subject to fees upon delivery. Unfortunately, we have no control over these fees, as this is determined by each country's customs office.