Mudmen and Figurines

randyclark

Dear Zen...

"Bonsai" is a Japanese word. So is "Kamikaze." "Ketchup" is Malasian, "Gesundheit" is German and "Salsa" is Spanish. All in common usage and listed in Websters New World. Wonderful language English... wot! wot! I put Asian figurines in my bonsai sometimes too. I do not, however, practice Japanese bonsai. I'm not Japanese. Can't be done. Good thing too. Going to the art museum would not be much fun if everyone in the world painted like French impressionists. Glad you like the little Moose and the fawn. They make me feel all warm and fuzzy and drive my Japanese oriented friends and teachers up the wall. May we always show them better bonsai.

Randy-san

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mudmantoo

I have about 150 of the old antique Chinese mudfigures in my collection, anywhere from an inch tall to 8", most were made before 1937, the year China was invaded by Japan.

I know most bonsai enthusiast don't use them, let alone collect them, but as Chinese Pen'tsai masters started the tradition 4000 years ago, why not?

I usually prefer to display them much like suiseki, on a hand carved daiza, next to a bonsai on a stand, but I have at times placed an old reclining sage under a tree in the pot.

I have a few of the mudwomen as well, these are not as easy to find but fun to look for at antique shops or online auctions.

Dave Richardson of Canada had 1500 antique pre World War 2 mudfigures in his private collection, the largest one in North America, he sold them all recently after 25 years of collecting .

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Treasure Coast Bonsai Society

http://www.artofbonsai.org/feature_articles/mudman.php

http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATMudmen.htm

http://www.bonsaitalk.com/news/arti...0001/000191.htm

PatArizona

Thanks Randy...

I appreciate the Oriental heritage of bonsai...however...even the Japanese do (generally) Japanese...

Any problem with Americans doing American?

Pat

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BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

TreeBay

Barbie & Ken?



P.S. I see mostly those traditional Chinese scholar characters regardless of where they come from in Asia, that seems to be the trend.

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Dale Cochoy

Interesting. I'll bet you have a great collection!
Here's my three older ones. The little guy on the right has been in my family a long time. It was my grandmothers LONG before I was born. My mom said she had it way back when. After grandmother passed away my mom used it in flower arrangements for many years. When she passed away I became it's guardian. I'm 56 now.
Dale
P.S. Does anyone else collect soapstone carvings?

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If you want to be Different....
You have to DO something Different!
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Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
but, they always seem to make the time to do it over again...
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Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio

RedPine

Here is modest collection of mudmen,the fisherman on the left is the only one that is actually old school.The bamboo table with wine bottle I did myself.

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MoSinister

Ok, so why is it 95 times out of 100, mudmen are looking up and to the right?

~Mo

mudmantoo

[QUOTE=MoSinister]Ok, so why is it 95 times out of 100, mudmen are looking up and to the right?

to focus attention to the tree .

__________________
Treasure Coast Bonsai Society

http://www.artofbonsai.org/feature_articles/mudman.php

http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATMudmen.htm

http://www.bonsaitalk.com/news/arti...0001/000191.htm

Dale Cochoy

OK, lets try this for a theory....
My very old ones are hollow inside and the hole is shaped perfectly like a finger. I'm imagining the fine details were "assembled" on a basic figure structure, stuck on a finger of the left hand while pieces added with right hand. If you hold your left hand in front of you to work they would naturally come together facing left and looking up....
If you find a mudman looking up and to right....he was assembled by a left handed artist.
What do you think?

Here's one I forgot was in my display cabinet
Dale

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__________________
________________________________
If you want to be Different....
You have to DO something Different!
__________________________________________

Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
but, they always seem to make the time to do it over again...
____________________________________________
Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio