Description
Korean worker or soldier carrying a heavy load in solid brass. Stamped into the metal “Made in Korea” on base. Probably made before, or before the end of the Korean War.
Interesting character burdened with a heavy load of packages. He’s wearing a full headscarf/hat that reaches to cover the ears, baggy pants and a button-down vest over thick puffy long sleeves. Sports a long beard and carries what looks like an ax. He’s not expecting warm weather.
While researching the subject we found no real clues to his identity. Images of Koreans before or during the war are scarce. We found one possible clue. The Korean war began in 1950. The Soviets and China supporting North Korea, the United States supported South Korea. We found images of The (Chinese) People’s Volunteer Army showing these North Korean ally fighters in outfits something like the one this man is wearing. It’s possible this sculpture is depicting a Korean ally.
Hefty brass sculpture weighs 1¼ lbs, measure 6″ tall on a 4½” round ashtray base. It is in very good shape. Appears not to have been used as an ashtray. Tiny spots of corrosion near screws used to fastened the backpack and the ashtray to the body. Nice even aged patina. Estimated to be approximately 70 years old.
