Occupied Japan Burro Donkey Pulling Cart Toothpick Holder

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Occupied Japan
Burro Donkey Pulling Cart 
Toothpick Holder, Planter, Sugar Packet Holder or Candy Dish

Occupied Japan figurines have a charm all their own. This charming little fellow looks like he's come from the streets of Old Mexico. His cart is empty, but you could easily solve that situation! A little cactus would make it a charming planter, or you could use it as a caddy for sugar or artificial sweetener packets on your kitchen table or counter.  Add some after dinner mints, and he becomes a festive candy dish! As an addition to your shelf or nightstand, his next task is to charm you!

The Occupied Japan mark dates the figurine to the 1940s or '50s. This would place it during the time period when Japan was occupied by the Allied contingent following World War II. Items made for export between 1945 and 1952 were required to be marked "Occupied Japan" or "Made in Occupied Japan." Japan turned millions of decorative items for export. Occupied Japan pieces often have slap-dash paint jobs or other manufacturer's flaws. The china of this set has a few bubbles, lines, and speckles, none of which detract from its charm.

This charming figurine is 2-1/4" tall, 6" long, and 2-1/2" deep. He is in excellent condition with no chips or cracks, just a few lines of crazing, which is common in these vintage pieces. The paint is under the glaze, so there is no color wear. On the bottom of the figurine, there are some dark marks at the points where the item rests on the surface beneath it. This mark appears on the bottom also:

MADE IN
OCCUPIED
JAPAN

This lovely fellow would make the perfect gift for yourself, a friend, or a secret sister!

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Please email with questions. In addition to cash, I would also be happy to accept a money order. You can make arrangements to pick up this item, or would be happy to provide a quote to ship it to you. When I ship, I will provide you with a tracking number so you know the status of your package. When shipping fragile items, insurance is available at your discretion. I will not be responsible for uninsured fragile items damaged in shipping. Thank you for your interest!