Japan, Meiji Period. Finely cast seated wearing long flowing robes opened at the chest, his face with amused expression looking down to his knee where a large three-legged toad is climbing up his leg.
Dimensions Measurement: 7 x 8 x 5 In. / 17.7 x 20.3 x 12.7 cm
Provenance Provenance: Property from the Collection of Jameson J. Wood.
Notes Note: Gama Sennin, known literally as the ‘toad hermit,’ a character based on the historical civil servant and alchemist Liu Hai of 10th century China. Various accounts associate Gama with a large, three-legged toad by which he can be identified. Gama was thought to be able to release his spirit from his body, metamorphose, and fly with the aid of his magical companion. Chinese prototypes of this theme sometimes represent the immortal sitting on or resting his foot on the animal and holding a string of gold coins, with which he is supposed to have lured the toad from its hiding place in a well.