Mudmen and Figurines

Dale Cochoy

Stamps might be smeared a bit. pretty small surface to stamp.
Mike, try some of your "Chinese -size" fingers down inside a few
Dale

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Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
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Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio

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Joanie

Here is a picture of the three I discussed in a previous post.

Also, a few more in the other picture. First, is the smallest little guy. He's 3/4" tall and appears to be holding a pipe. He is not old.

Then, the three old guys. And a really mysterious animal. It appears to be a horse that is sitting down. More like a dog, but not dog like. Very old. Finally, an old hand-formed crane, again no markings.

Joanie

Attached Images

	mudmen1.jpg (10.2 KB, 19 views)
	mudmen2.jpg (14.7 KB, 23 views)

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Joanie

The faces and accessories are definitely molded on the majority of pieces. However, I am with Dale on this one... the bodies, robes, hands, feet etc. are not molded. They are hand formed. You couldn't get a mold to go into the deep areas, particularly in the sleeves of the robes or between the legs. If they were press molded, you would see these deep areas "flooded", and there would be no areas that could not be reached by the tip of a pencil as it rides over the top of the detail.

The hole is most likely for a finger, and the apparent seams may have been the joining of two pre-cut pieces of clay that were formed around the finger. The pre-cut clay may have been somewhat molded or worked in advance, but the majority of what you see is done by hand.

Mudmantoo's manifold is actually a clay armature, which becomes the structure of the piece. Right, Mudmantoo?

The clay varies greatly in quality. My little guys are not nearly as groggy as the larger pieces.

Joanie

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Dale Cochoy

this comment makes me undestand better what Mudmantoo was saying. I thought he was talking of a sort of cone shaped mold the clay was assembled OVER, but after your remark, and looking at the picture again , I see it was actually clay and "part of" the man with a "Coating" ( if you will) of clothes, etc. over it. I don't believe I've ever seen one like this. Gotta save the pictures.!
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

Joanie

Yes, I had to think about it and really study it. The word "manifold" is not a familiar one, but hand assembling no doubt has it's own lingo!

And when you were talking about the air drying of the hand formed pieces, the molded pieces, etc..... you're right that the molded pieces and the hand formed pieces could possibly be incompatible when drying. There are ways to make sure that they don't crack or break off, though. If everything is made from the same clay (in other words, not one thing from slip and another from hand building clay) then they are of the same density and dampness. They can be used right away, and will be compatible, or they can be placed into a damp box.

Using a damp box will keep everything the same dampness for later assembly.

More pictures, everyone!!!!

Joanie

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mudmantoo

a clay armature would probably be the more precise definition for the manifold ....I've always heard it referred to as a manifold, but is is the same thing.... I have just a few mudfigures where the seams are barely visible on the outside of the pottery, a poor cleaning before firing if you will....I took pottery classes when I was in school many many years ago....we used slip to join pottery pieces together after wetting the joints, and modern potters in China still use that technique I understand especially for slab pots.
The problem we have with these antique export mudfigures is their is no one left alive who crafted them that could verify any more than what we know about them today, some things are a standard though.... for example chinese artisans speak of the original mudfigure figures being formed in molds, and features added afterwards, the traditional glazes, the relationship between mysticism and mythology some representative of Chinese gods,others aristocrats and servants, not to mention the animals that were created....the historical significance each represent, etc.

Based on such things what we have is basically a puzzle assembled together from bit and pieces of knowledge learned from different sources to recreate a picture of the past....collectors being the most obvious source for the info, handing down bits and pieces they have discovered to create the whole.

This figure was acquired from a woman whose great grandmother attended the 1904 Worlds Fair in St. Louis Missouri and purchased this mudfigure at the Chinese emporium, this piece was handed down for generations until she received it, and as she was not a collector....offerd it to me for a nominal price....

Attached Images

1904 souvenir.jpg (7.0 KB, 15 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

mudmantoo

This mudfigure was purchased about 1920, the date is verified as I bought it from a late Dr.s estate sale in Melbourne Fl., the original receipt stated it was bought in Chicago at the" Great Wall of China" novelty store....no I did not get the original receipt, the collector who purchased the whole lot of some several hundred pieces at auction claimed it, all I got was the info presented here with the one I purchased....

Attached Images

cao1.jpg (16.8 KB, 13 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

mudmantoo

Attached Images

mudlady1.JPG (14.3 KB, 13 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

Joanie

What does that mean? Is it the colors, or the application, or the glaze itself?

Joanie

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