First we have seen from the 19th century Meiji period (1868-1912), Signed.

Japan, a beautiful, unusual and possibly unique antique hand cast bronze “Kappa” (child protector) sculptor complete with a separately formed bronze pair of 3.5 inch long cucumbers- a kappa’s favorite snack food.

An incised artist signature Buraku is on base. Dark original patina appropriate to its age.

Japanese Kappa are folk lore garden water deities- protectors of children along waters’ edge. They are known to favor cucumbers and can cause good fortune to happen by bringing fish and irrigating crops to local people. They are also known as tricksters. Kappa are distinguished as having a turtle like back with a small pool of water suspended on top of their head, signifying their life force and habitat. Many Shinto temples have Kappa statues.

Notice fine design details from casting. Last two photographs were taken in exterior natural light.

History:
A kappa (lit. river child), also known as kawataro is a folk art character found in traditional Japanese folklore. The name is a combination of the words kawa (river) and wappa, a variant form of warawa (child)

Dimensions: 7 inches high and 7 inches wide; the separate cucumber pair is 3.5 inches long

Good garden candidate, this is an ideal accent size for a small outdoor or indoor zen garden.

Unique…Only one.

Provenance: from the estate of a Japanese Ikebana master who co-founded the Sogetsu School in Hong Kong in the 1960s. The master’s parents were from Osaka.

Lifetime guarantee of authenticity.

Our gallery based in Newport, Rhode Island USA has been dealing in authentic Pre-Columbian, Japanese and fine Asian art, garden ornaments, lanterns and water basins for 25 years. Our president personally travels across America as well as Japan and Europe each year to meet his network partners who assist him in finding best examples. He personally inspects each antique work of art to ensure its old age, authenticity and quality condition.