Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th to early 20th century Comprising one of Daikoku, seated holding a sack and mallet atop a rat-damaged tied rice bale, the back of a rodent visible from one of the holes at the front of the rice bale, one end decorated with assorted takaramono (auspicous objects) in low relief, the other end with a tama (flaming jewel), unsigned, 10cm x 8cm (4in x 3 1/8in); the second a group of five rats clambering over a large abalone shell, unsigned; 10cm (4in) wide. (2).