Japanese fisherman with his crab-catcher basket and a crab, vintage hand painted pottery, "Great Good-Life" [Great Fortune or 'Great Luck'] is written on his head scarf, late 1940s-early 1950s Japanese Hakata Urasaki doll, marked 'Made in Japan'. The sculpture is placed on the original post-WWII [late 1940s] Kakuman lacquer tray.

The figure is c.8.1/2" [c.22cm] tall; c 6" x 5" [15.2cm x 12.7cm] hand-painted fired white clay, very good condition. The tray is c.10" x 7.3/4" [25.4cm x 19.8cm]; black lacquer on genuine wood, genuine mother-of-pearl decorations at the rim; some surface wear, lacquer creases, small damages, good/ very good condition.

The lacquer tray is marked 'Kakuman Okinawa', marking used 1948-1950s [in 1958, the company name was change to Ryukyu Kakuman Lacquerware]. After the WWII, in the late 1940s the lacquerware were not affordable for Okinawan people, the priority was food, clothing, and shelter. Therefore, the Kakuman Company restarted post-WWII production with such crude lacquer trays for restaurants.

During the Korean War, Hakata figures and Kakuman lacquerware become favorite souvenirs among American soldier. Kakuman specially produced lacquer souvenir boxes. They were offered for sale on the U.S. Military bases in 1950-1954 in Japan for soldiers coming and going from the Korean war theater of operations. Normally, souvenir Hakata figures sold at the U.S. military bases in the 1950s, were varnished and received proper red mark in English, including "washable" on the bottom. This particular Hakata figure is not varnished and has a simple 'Made in Japan' stamp at the bottom, while the Kakuman tray is not a souvenir, but an authentic crude Japanese restaurant ware of the late 1940s.

Initially Hakata dolls were traditional hand-painted clay dolls made as offerings in Buddhist temples. At the end of the 19th century, Hakata dolls transformed from simple fired clay toys to works of art. Master craftsman Rokusaburo Shirouzu began to study color theory, human proportions, and other modern artistic theories and techniques under Itusyo Yada, an oil painter, which led to the production of more realistic Hakata. Yoichi Kojima, a student of Rokusaburo Shirouzu, won a gold medal in Paris' 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts for his Hakata dolls, and fellow students Kihei Harada and Yoichi Oayu were awarded silver medals. The original Hakata Urasaki figures are famous for their realistic features and great attention to details.

Rates vary per zone/ country. We will adjust shipping costs with the invoice.

Note:
Country restrictions may apply - the lesser expansive Priority shipping may not be available to all countries.

US: Priority (c 2-4 days) ---------- $68.50
Canada: Priority (c 2-7 weeks) -- $75.50
World: Priority (c 2-8 weeks) --- $105.50