A JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHY "tool"--The water dropper (SUITEKI) which drops a teeny perfect dropplet from the tip of the American Indian's feather to keep the ink from drying too fast I am told.
This is usedIn the art & craft penmanship of Calligraphy! This is an oddity, because it is in the form of an American Indian! Could be from 1920s and up. RAISED SMALL IMPRESSION "JAPAN" on bottom Calligraphy was a huge "fad" in this country in the earlier days. Very heavy for just 3 1/2 inches
Last photo is my cat "Mustacio" with his natural perfect mustache showing--he is snoozing outside this morning and I am holding the water dropper so you can see the bottom and the teeny cork. It has been wrapped up in a drawer 20 years because I was afraid I'd lose it.Could be bronze. Bronze wash, shows age tho.
Anyone have more thoughts as to why the Japanese would have used this odd subject matter instead of a Japanes motif??