This is a one-wood carving, estimated to be of Ebisu, carved in the Tohoku region of Japan during the late Meiji to Taisho periods. Holding a sea bream in his right hand and sitting quietly, his form embodies the rural folk faith, devoid of lavish ornamentation. The etched eyes, the roughly remaining chisel marks, and the sense of weight carved from a single block. A carving where prayer precedes design. The annual rings on the base and the drying cracks indicate that the wood has aged over a long period. This is clearly different from later tourist souvenirs, a folk religious image rooted in daily life. A form that is established not by symmetry, but by "presence." For those who appreciate the wood grain of the Mingei collector Kazumi Sakata, and those looking for Tohoku Buddhist or folk sculptures. Size: 29cm x 19cm x 15cm Due to its age, there are cracks and scratches from aging. Sold as is. Items of this type are becoming increasingly rare in the market. For those who understand the condition and the wood grain.