Mechanical Japanese Clown with Cymbals tubular vase at 59”x80

at 59”x80

I found these fabulous hand-painted vintage wooden chopsticks at an estate sale that featured a really interesting mix of Asian and farm house antiques

) in the bottom right corner

green and dark blue banded patterning

Mechanical Japanese Clown with Cymbals tubular vase at 59”x80This 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.