This very rare mudman had a different purpose than most others. Smoke was believed to ward off evil by the Chinese so some rare
well-made special pieces were made as ash receivers. The carp's open mouth was for depositing the ashes. It is glazed in the Sancai tradition of Mustard Yellow, Jade Green and Cerulean Blue. I consider this one of the most desirable mudmen for a collection. This has everything; rarity; very good condition; and interesting background story.

Nowadays collecting mudmen has become increasingly popular. While most collectors are starting their collections with more common figures, some have progressed to a more serious level. Whatever your collecting preferences, learning about the meanings and desirable features.

The next thing to value is the condition of the figure. Are the colors still vibrant? Is there damage? Almost all mudmen will have some roughness around the base which is acceptable. However try to avoid broken or restored pieces, unless it is a truly rare piece.

Size: 5 1/2 inches tall,

Condition: Very Good. Less than the expected roughness around the base.

Circa: 1930.

This is from my most recent purchase of a mudman collection from the very prestigious Patricia Hardin Collection. This collection has many rare and extremely rare pieces in exceptional condition. We purchased all of what was offered by the estate.