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I recently received this figurine from a lady at our church that was moving into a retirement community. I researched the hallmark and know it is Maruyami Toki, SETO, 1920-30's. My question is what the cutout and hole in the back are for? The pictures I have found online and on eBay have not had these. I know this is not valuable but I am curious. New to the forum and have enjoyed reading many of the posts on here. I know I have several items that I have been carrying around for years that I need to dig out and find out what they are. Thanks, Terry |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Looks like it might have been a lamp. |
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| That is what I thought at first but the figure is only about 6" high and not very heavy. The hole goes straight into his back and there is not room for a bend once the lamp fixture was inserted inside. It was made with the hole because there is small run of green from his jacket on the edge. I cleaned it up and put it on a shelf but those openings still bother me...can't figure it out...lol. Thanks |
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| I think it's an incensor -- incense cones were burnt in it. The larger, lower hole allows you to insert the incense and the smoke comes out the upper one. |
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| Those holes may be an artifact of the casting process. Hollow castings made by the slip mold process need a drain hole to pour out the excess molding 'slip'. Lack of sharp edges is a common feature of slip molding. |
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| Stafford cottage pastille (incense) burners have these holes. The smoke comes out the chimney of the cottage -- it's a little less attractive having it come out of the man's ears! |
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| It's a pastille burner. A slip drain hole is much different...small and more or less hidden. |
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