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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[–] InfiniWheel@lemmy.one 10 points 1 year ago

This quantumania marketing is getting weird

[–] Mostly_Gristle@lemmy.world 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.

[–] Miarolitic@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

Google image search suggests it's supposed to be Budda

[–] EricHill78@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

spitting image of my mother in law

[–] buycurious@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] RobotToaster@infosec.pub 3 points 1 year ago

Nothing, unfortunately.

[–] Lumun@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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

[–] MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

That's definitely baby Krang from TMNT.

[–] elephantintheroom@vlemmy.net 1 points 1 year ago
[–] deus_deceptor@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

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

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