Prettily shaped silver pitcher and a beaded purse made in Japan were two of my favorites, and won't be on eBay :). The little purse is covered in fake pearls that have mostly lost their covering but it has such a nice heavy feel to it, and it's lined in satin. I'll use it for an eyeglass case.
This guy I could use some help with. I think he's just been made to look old and is probably plastic or resin. On the bottom he's marked KINA. I really like the way he looks and feels, and I would like to know a little more about him. I think he might be a Japanese figure? If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them. I am pretty sure he's not ivory, but it would be cool if he was made of bone. I tried the hot pin test but it didn't even begin to melt a little hole like it should if he was plastic, but still I don't really think he's old. Any ideas?
I like the expression on the old man's face! We're going to a few yard sales today, hope I find something neat. My word verification is 'yards'. How appropriate.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, Janet! I saw some signs going into town and was so tempted--but still have to get to work on time.
ReplyDeleteGood meeting last night.
Hi GSue! I think I have solved your mystery man. When I saw him, he reminded me of one of the 7 Chinese Gods. I looked them up, and he closely resembles Jurojin, the god of wisdom and longevity. If you look him up online you can find many versions of his statue and his story. As for KINA, I don't know. Probably the company or artist?
ReplyDeleteThat could be, Jason. I just looked him up and he looks similar. Thanks!
ReplyDeletePossibly celluloid? I know you said it passed your hot pin test, and I know celluloid is very flammable, but it looks like a sort of browned ivory, and celluloid was used as an ivory substitute.
ReplyDeleteMy father brought home a whole set of these (all seven of the gods, that is) from Japan, plus a few other figurines, all of celluloid. This was back in the early 1950s, when he was over there on R&R from Korea. (He was a journalist.)
--Mario
Hunh. I never thought of celluloid, Mario. Could be. I just like it, so I'll accept that it's probably not bone or ivory and be happy because...I like it.
ReplyDeleteAbout your dad--I would bet there are some stories there to be told.
As I said, it was popular as an ivory substitute, but that stopped because it is flammable and easily decomposes. Your figurine is paler than what I have, but there's a resonance.
ReplyDeleteMy father probably did have a lot of stories, but he told me very little. He died when I was 22 and in college -- we'd only just begun to interact as two adults. He always told me that he intended some day to start record his memoirs for me to do the writing. In the weeks after he died, I went through every tape he had ... Sometimes, though, the internet can bring up surprises. For example:
http://www.dutch-east-indies.com/story/page88.php
My father is named towards the end as a journalist who was one of those transported in these pig baskets. Not a story he ever told me, I assure you.
He got an entirely different view on the Japanese after the war when he went to Japan for that R&R. He always told me I'd like them if I ever got to know them. At the time, I found that hard to believe. --Mario