This listing is for a RARE & UNIQUE Big Vintage BELLIKEN CONCRETE GOOD LUCK BIG STATUE as can be seen in the pictures.
Big and Heavy at about 100 lbs and 28"high x 16.5"wide x 18" deep.
JUST IMAGINE HOW MUCH YOUR LOCAL NURSERY WOULD CHARGE FOR A UNIQUE PIECE LIKE THIS! THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!!!!
We also included a picture of the Jesuit Priest run University of St. Louis mascott which is a Bronze Billiken as can be seen in the pictures.
Billiken is known as "The God of Things As They Ought to Be!"
To buy a Billiken was said to give the purchaser luck, but to have one given would be better luck.
Mythical Good Luck Figure. Doofy little white gnome with crossed eyes and a tuft of blond hair. Perfectly harmless.
The following information is from Wikipedia's site which you can link to by clicking: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billiken
A billiken concrete statue which can be used either inside or outside.
Originally conceived by an American art teacher and illustrator Florence Pretz in the early 20th century this charm doll is now primarily seen as a token of good fortune or as a mascot.
Overall in Very Good Condition, does show minor signs of usage, such as paint flaking and minor wear due to age, we suspect it must have been made about 60 years ago but cannot be sure because we don't see any dates imprinted on it.
This unit came from an estate from a University History Professor.
It is believed that Pretz found the name Billiken in Bliss Carman's 1896 poem Mr. Moon: A Song Of The Little People. In 1908, she obtained a design patent on the ornamental design of the Billiken, which she sold to the Billiken Company of Chicago. The Billiken was elephant-like with pointed ears, a mischievous smile and a tuft of hair on his pointed head. His arms were short and he was generally sitting with his legs stretched out in front of him.
To buy a Billiken was said to give the purchaser luck, but to have one given would be better luck. The image was copyrighted and a trademark was put on the name.
Although they are similar, the Billiken and the baby-like Kewpie figures that debuted in the December 1909 Ladies' Home Journal are not the same.
Today, the Billiken is the official mascot of Saint Louis University and St. Louis University High School, both Jesuit institutions located in St. Louis.
The Billiken is also the official mascot of the Royal Order of Jesters, an invitation only Shriner group, affiliated with Freemasonry.
The Billiken also became the namesake of Billiken Shokai, the Japanese toy & model manufacturing company (established 1976).
Many current online articles about the Billikens are based on an article by anthropologist Dorothy Jean Ray that first appeared in Alaska Sportsman (now Alaska) in 1960, with an updated version in Alaska Journal in 1973.
It has ALWAYS been very well taken care of as can be seen in the pictures.
