“This isn't just a hook; it's a *jizaigake*, a beautiful and functional object from a wealthy Japanese farmhouse. Its carved top, resembling a god's hat, brought good fortune and its substantial size held a kettle over a hearth, making it a focal point of daily life.”
This large wooden hook, called a jizaigake, offers a glimpse into the domestic life of a wealthy Japanese farmhouse. Imagine it suspended above a hearth, holding a kettle on a chain, ready to heat water for tea or cooking. Its most striking feature is the slanted top, carved to resemble the distinctive hat of Daikoku, one of Japan's seven gods of good fortune, often associated with wealth and prosperity. This detail suggests the household's aspirations and perhaps its gratitude for abundance. The wood itself, likely keyaki (Japanese zelkova), is known for its remarkable flame-like grain, a characteristic that would have been admired for its natural beauty and strength. The substantial size of this piece speaks to its functional purpose and the central role the hearth played in daily life.
- Artist
- William Hook
- Date
- 1875
- Medium
- Wood
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dimensions
- 49.6 × 50.5 × 33.5 cm (19 1/2 × 19 7/8 × 13 1/4 in.)
- Collection
- Arts of Asia
- Culture
- Japan
- Credit line
- Gift of Muriel Kallis Newman
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
The slanted top, carved like a hat, representing Daikoku, a god of good fortune.
The rich, swirling grain of the wood, characteristic of *keyaki* (zelkova).
The substantial size, indicating its use for holding a large kettle.
The smooth, worn surface, suggesting years of practical use over a hearth.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Large Hook for a Kettle (Jizaigake) — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
William Hook
1829William Hook, born in 1829, is associated with works like 'Alice' and 'A City Park' from the late 19th century.
Further Works by Hook
A City Park
1887 · Art Institute of Chicago
At Mouquin's
1905 · Art Institute of Chicago
Alice
1892 · Art Institute of Chicago
It's a New Age
1992 · Art Institute of Chicago
Women Fighting
1892 · Art Institute of Chicago
Garment Hook
Art Institute of Chicago
Maine Landscape
1927 · Art Institute of Chicago
Fall Meadow (Sample)
1950 · Art Institute of Chicago
More works to explore
Beyond Hook: works from the same years.
Same era · 1860s–1890s
Cart with Red and White Ox
Vincent van Gogh · 1884 · Kröller-Müller Museum
Same era · 1860s–1890s
Chariot Race
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1876 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1860s–1890s
Paris Street; Rainy Day
Kawabata Gyokushō · 1877 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1860s–1890s
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte — 1884
Okada Saburosuke · 1884 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1860s–1890s
The Backgammon Players
Philip Webb · 1861 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1860s–1890s
Henri Degas and His Niece Lucie Degas (The Artist's Uncle and Cousin)
Edgar Degas · 1875 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1860s–1890s
Landscape along the Seine with the Institut de France and the Pont des Arts
Alfred Sisley · 1875 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1860s–1890s
Lunch at the Restaurant Fournaise (The Rowers' Lunch)
Pierre-Auguste Renoir · 1875 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1860s–1890s
The Fishermen (Fantastic Scene)
Paul Cézanne · 1875 · Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1860s–1890s
The Seine at Pont de Grenelle
Paul Gauguin · 1875 · Wallraf–Richartz Museum
Same era · 1860s–1890s
Woman with a Parasol – Madame Monet and Her Son
Claude Monet · 1875 · National Gallery of Art
Same era · 1860s–1890s
An Alpine Scene
Gustave Courbet · 1874 · Art Institute of Chicago