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Figure of Hotei

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Figure of Hotei by is a sculpture of a smiling, bald man with a large belly. The man has a large head, a round face, and a wide smile. He has a large, rounded belly and bare feet. He wears a robe that falls in folds to his feet. The robe has a sash tied around his waist. The man holds a large bead rosary in his right hand. His left hand hangs at his side, palm facing inwards. The background of the image is light gray. The sculpture appears to be made of dark gray metal. The overall posture of the figure is standing with bare feet shoulder-width apart.

Artwork Details

Date
18th century
Medium
Clay covered with a thin glaze (Bizen ware, Imbe style)
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
464 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette