It's an inkwell, seems old, possibly bronze, but who is it supposed to be?
this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2023
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What is this thing?
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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.