this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2023
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What is this thing?

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It's an inkwell, seems old, possibly bronze, but who is it supposed to be?

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

This quantumania marketing is getting weird

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I think it might just be meant to depict a fat little Japanese peasant/laborer. The bandana-style headband tied in the front smacks of some kind of worker like a farmer or a fisherman. I don't know why people keep suggesting it's the Buddha. It's clearly not (too fat, and has none of the defining physical characteristics). Nor is it Budai/Hotei (which is the fat guy a lot of people confuse with Buddha).

It's a neat little inkwell though. Looks like it's meant to be a stand for your pen as well. It reminds me of a lot of the tourist junk my grandpa brought back from Japan in the '50s when he was stationed in Korea during his military service.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Google image search suggests it's supposed to be Budda

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

spitting image of my mother in law

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Any other identifiable markings on it, like on the bottom?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Nothing, unfortunately.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Seems like a poorly cast Buddha sculpture to me. Something about the hand gesture.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

That's definitely baby Krang from TMNT.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Google ”Olmec figurine”, there’s definitely a thematic resemblance.

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