Mechanical Japanese Clown with Cymbals spatula 28 painted wooden dominoes

28 painted wooden dominoes

I found only one very similar one

Each is signed on the underside and there is a mark on the side of the one with the wider banding

but this whale design I believe was by far the loveliest

and the text " Ideal for the table

Mechanical Japanese Clown with Cymbals spatula 28 painted wooden dominoesThis clown seems to be a pure embodiment of happiness, from its hand painted red cheeked smiling face to its polka dotted outfit, to its little wooden legs, one missing a foot. But best of all, squeeze his belly and his arms come forward, almost, but not quite, to clap those cymbals together! Definitely made in Japan (he bears a very close resemblance to a few Japanese hand puppets I've had in stock), I believe this clown dates to the 1940s or so.