Both arms up, head thrown back, mid-laugh: a vintage Chinese Happy Buddha hand carved from a single piece of solid ebony, a wood that fights the chisel at every cut. The carving is sure throughout, from the heavy belly and falling robe to the creases around the eyes, with a small brass earring in one lobe and his original wooden plinth underneath. Feng shui has the raised-arms Hotei carry your troubles off and leave the good fortune behind, and we have yet to see anyone walk past him without smiling.
Details
Object: Happy Buddha (Hotei / Budai) statue with both arms raised
Material: solid ebony, hand carved, with brass earring, on wooden plinth
Origin: China
Period: vintage, mid 20th century
Dimensions: approx. 27 cm high, 12.5 cm wide, 8 cm deep
Weight: approx. 785 g (ships as a securely packed parcel of about 3 kg)
Condition: very good vintage condition with a warm, natural patina
