Posted 8 years ago
harley9883
(1 item)
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
Any marks?
Bronze with Gold, I think. He is very nice quality. Oriental Man Carrying Water Buckets - look that up, but there are so many. He is standing on a lotus.
Thanks for your comments,
I cannot find any marks outside or inside. The statue is solid brass, and the brown is an acid treatment, I think, not sure.
This is exactly the same style and form as the male figure in what are called "Mamasan and Papasan water bearers or carriers" afrom the Lenwile Ardalt Artware Japanese Figurines. These are most common in porcelain. All white or painted. There is a male figure and a female figure. The only difference in the statues are the buckets. The porcelain one have "wooden" buckets.
There is another similar bronze I have seen but this one is far superior.