Mechanical Japanese Clown with Cymbals spatula ) this box was made

) this box was made down there as a present to his wife

I’m not personally a huge fan of mid-century“fat lava” ceramics

They are my very favorite examples of her work that I have seen

the smallest are 3” tall

but this whale design I believe was by far the loveliest

Mechanical Japanese Clown with Cymbals spatula ) this box was madeThis clown seems to be a pure embodiment of happiness, from its hand painted red cheeked smiling face to its polka dotted outfit, to its little wooden legs, one missing a foot. But best of all, squeeze his belly and his arms come forward, almost, but not quite, to clap those cymbals together! Definitely made in Japan (he bears a very close resemblance to a few Japanese hand puppets I've had in stock), I believe this clown dates to the 1940s or so.