Mudmen and Figurines

mudmantoo

keep in mind these mud figures were a tradition passed from generation to generation for 1000's of years,they are hollow because they were hand packed into a mold, the head ,hands ,feet and legs were added after the torso had air dried, along with hair, hats, baskets, fruits and other accessories....after which they were fired, glazed and fired again.

It has been suggested these figures were created by village co-ops in all the different regions in China just for the export trade, that would account for the various degrees of quality in each piece....most are beleived to be made in Shiwan, thats an erroneous myth according to one online author, because he says they were also produced in Foshan, Canton, and Jiangshu provinces and others are mentioned .

There is not much not known about these oriental curios today, but myths are its legacy as one collector states....the one one sure truth is that they were hand made by individual or group artisans of the past and as such are irreplaceable....I know of a fellow who is writing a book about them, a collectors guide....seems he's collaborated with and gleaned info from other collectors and has agreed to write it....if anyone is interested you can read a short article about antique mudfigures he wrote for Harry Harrington over at www.bonsai4me.com it 's posted under the articles section and the title is "MudMan....Myths ,Facts and Fiction, Legacy of an antique collectible....I read it several times , it's a pretty good article and it seems a lot of what he says is being parroted by other websites who offer to sell mudfigures and by sellers on ebay.

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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

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Joanie

Here's a journal entry I wrote a while ago, about mudmen, when we were talking about art.

(If it doesn't work, go to "journal", then to Joanie's journal, then find the one that talks about a mountain in China)

It's entertaining to try and visualize the lives of people who live so differently, and whose work touches you even though they remain anonymous.

Joanie

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Dale Cochoy

Mud,
Hmmmm, I wonder, I guess, about the basic statement they were hand packed into a mold for the basic torso. The ones I have are DEFINITELY finger-shaped cavities, almost perfectly fit my fingers. I wonder about molded . More like pre-formed torso on a finger. Although, certainly could have been pushed into a mold with that finger instead of having it built-up on a finger. Also, although I agree the "pieces" were added by hand to the torso ( as still done today) that the torso couln't be airdried. The torso would have to be nearly the exact same moisture content as the pieces or they wood probably fall off as drying. In looking at them closely I think possibly things like hats may have been from little press molds where soft clay pressed in then after removing after a short drying period , they wouldbe attached to the torso. Assembly would be pretty quick, and , nearly identical by someone doing this all day, day after day...
Newer ones, although I've never seen them made, seems to me would be quickly assembled from a series of little push molds of the main pieces in all the many styles now available. Body, arms, etc. added and the hair, beards, etc. being the only tiny parts actually "formed" for each person.
Also, new, large mudmen-type figures I have no doubt are slip cast, as in the larger ones shown in thread, with a few tiny parts like birds, bats, etc added to the cast form.
BTW, my ideas above about the facing up and left would still stand as the artist adds pieces to the torso on his finger whether press molded with a finger OR just formed on a finger.Hold your left hand out in front and think about it, imagine sticking small pieces on your finger.

I'm looking forward to seeing a book on this someday.
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

mudmantoo

[QUOTE=Dale Cochoy]Mud,
Hmmmm, I wonder, I guess, about the basic statement they were hand packed into a mold for the basic torso. The ones I have are DEFINITELY finger-shaped cavities, almost perfectly fit my fingers, More like pre-formed torso on a finger.Although, certainly could have been pushed into a mold with that finger instead of having it built-up on a finger.

Yes, they were hand packed into a basic mold, and the clay compacted and formed to the mold with a finger or chopstick, most everyone of them, with a few exceptions, have fingerprints inside and on the outside in most instances. Usually seen in the glaze or on the hands and face. If you look closely inside you will see the seam where the two parts of the mold were joined together.


Also, although I agree the "pieces" were added by hand to the torso ( as still done today) that the torso couln't be airdried. The torso would have to be nearly the exact same moisture content as the pieces or they wood probably fall off as drying.

In a sense you are right, the torso had to be dry enough to handle, in order to add the other parts....a wet slip was used to cement these parts into place, and smoothed down with a brush or some other soft object, if you look close enough, say at a neck line you can see the brush strokes.

In looking at them closely I think possibly things like hats may have been from little press molds where soft clay pressed in then after removing after a short drying period , they wouldbe attached to the torso. Assembly would be pretty quick, and , nearly identical by someone doing this all day, day after day...

That is a correct observation, but in a few instances the hats, jugs, or objects in their hands are hand made right on the spot, I have a few fishermen like that, not two pieces or accesories are the same size.

Newer ones, although I've never seen them made, seems to me would be quickly assembled from a series of little push molds of the main pieces in all the many styles now available. Body, arms, etc. added and the hair, beards, etc. being the only tiny parts actually "formed" for each person.

On the miniature modern mudmen, they are actually created individually entirely by hand, it is said the more experienced sculptors can create one in a few minutes...I beleive though the heads are premolded to get an expression.


Also, new, large mudmen-type figures I have no doubt are slip cast, as in the larger ones shown in thread, with a few tiny parts like birds, bats, etc added to the cast form.

Yes they are, and manufactured by the tens thousands each day by the many ceramic factories of China.

This 4" inch mud fisherman is entirely sculpted by hand, I have two others in this style, one a monk, the other a fisherman....he was not pressed into a mold, but rather created over a manifold which only contained the head, he is marked "made in China" and predates WW2.

Attached Images

	hndmdemud1.jpg (13.0 KB, 18 views)
	hndmdemud5.JPG (10.2 KB, 10 views)

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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

Dale Cochoy

[QUOTE=mudmantooThis 4" inch mud fisherman is entirely sculpted by hand, I have two others in this style, one a monk, the other a fisherman....he was not pressed into a mold, but rather created over a manifold which only contained the head, he is marked "made in China" and predates WW2.[/QUOTE]

Lets see a picture of the bottom of this guy.
Please explain "created over a manifold which only contained the head"
Dale

__________________
________________________________
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

Vance Wood

I agree Randy, it should be possible to put a tiny still, a couple of Hilly Billy boot legers and a few Federal agents sitting in ambush along side a souped up "55" Chevy. It may not be traditional but it sure could be fun.

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The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa

mudmantoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale Cochoy Quote: Originally Posted by mudmantooThis 4" inch mud fisherman is entirely sculpted by hand, I have two others in this style, one a monk, the other a fisherman....he was not pressed into a mold, but rather created over a manifold which only contained the head, he is marked "made in China" and predates WW2. [/i [i]Lets see a picture of the bottom of this guy. Please explain "created over a manifold which only contained the head" Dale

The manifold is a tube like device open at one end and shaped like a "C" on the other, the head was inserted in the open end and the body draped over this manifold, arms,legs, hands and feet were shaped entirely by hand.

notice the back of the manifold in the second picture outlined in red.

Attached Images

	hndmdemud7.jpg (12.8 KB, 14 views)
	manifold.JPG (12.7 KB, 20 views)

__________________
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

randyclark

I agree Vance.... redneck bootleggers would be good. We could get me and John Dixon to pose for the castings... but what I actually had in mind for my forest planting was a indian village with teepees, and a campfire. My nephew thinks a small electric train with a post office and a general store would be a good addition. Here's a bear used on a raft planting which gets a lot of positive comments. The fact that he is stepping over the raft draws attention to it.

Randy

Attached Images

bear copy.jpg (59.4 KB, 27 views)

Vance Wood

All joking aside, a number of years ago I attended the Chicago Show. Someone exhibited a planting of grasses on a hillock with a bear comming out of a cave. It was so tastefull done and pleasing to look at every body liked it. Normally I do not like figurines with bonsai, but if it is done right, and usually it is not, it is a possibility.

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The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa