Japanese Papasan Water Bearer Carrier (WWII period)

I want to thank everyone here at Collectors Weekly, who helped guide me in the right direction.

This 42" tall brass statue of a Japanese Papasan Water Bearer Carrier of an old man carrying two buckets of water, is the only one known to exist here in the US.

It was purchased by a Japanese women while in Japan, from a fine Arts Shop, and then sent to the US as a special gift to her husband (exported to the US post-WWII). The party I purchased it from (a long time acquiescence of mine), bought it directly from the same Japanese women after her husband passed away.

She claimed it was a one-of-kind when she originally purchased it. After an exhaustive two-year search on the net, it would appear this is the case. I've not been able to find another one in existence, made of brass, either here in the US, or anywhere else in the world for that matter. It definitely appears to be a 'one-of-kind' piece.

However, my exhaustive Google search did produce one other made of bronze, and several others much smaller in size (10-13 inches). My search also revealed that Mamasan Papasan Water Bearer Carrier's were produced as 'porcelain collectibles', and were the rage in Japan in 1960's and 70's.

My final conclusions are; this brass Papasan Water Bearer is the only one known to exist, ..a truly remarkable find!

If anyone wishes to contact me, my email is: harvey@steamkeg.com