Featured Japanese Daruma Sake Cup with Floating Eyes

Discussion in 'Pottery, Glass, and Porcelain' started by wlwhittier, Aug 14, 2025.

  1. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    I may have known what this gimmicky feature was called, but cannot recall now. Those eyes are voids in the bottom, wherein reside 2 wee black 'things' that move when liquid fills the cup.
    The circular mark in the back is unevenly stamped, so is incomplete; it may offer some clues if y'all can read any of it. I think it's post-war, but that's a guess. Any of your observations will be welcome, an' valuable. Thanks for lookin'!

    P1450247.jpeg P1450248.jpeg P1450249.jpeg P1450252.jpeg P1450250.jpeg
     
  2. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    thats way cool whit, what do his eyes do? (is it the same thing that the ladies do when i give um my best chat up lines ?:playful::))

    are you sure thats stamped ?, looks painted from here ;)
     
    sabre123, wlwhittier and Marote like this.
  3. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    i like him for being older as well
     
    wlwhittier likes this.
  4. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    Up close it's pretty plainly stamped, but it's overglaze an' the strokes have depth...so I cannot rule out painted; you may be right.

    I'll fill it with spirits, an' record the results (on the cup, not on the unfortunate fellow who must consume those evil spirits to prevent waste).
     
    charlie cheswick likes this.
  5. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    :hilarious: just make sure the shots in focus ;):D:p
     
    wlwhittier likes this.
  6. bosko69

    bosko69 Well-Known Member

    Dial it down and blink every now n' then !
    wildandcrazy.jpg
     
  7. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    When liquid (I used plain ol' water) fills the cup, those eyes move, seeming to follow you as the cup is tilted this way an' that.
    I think the secret is that the material the wee beads are made of is carefully chosen to be of neutral buoyancy; they don't float, nor do they sink, in their voids behind the eye-holes. bicbw...
    I would sure like to know what the feature, or the cup that displays it, is properly called. Help me out, here, if you can.
     
    Figtree3 and charlie cheswick like this.
  8. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    yeah i would like to know as well whit (never seen anything like it)

    its got so much going for it though, he's got a cool animation character look

    and the fact that its got a fun gadget type as well makes it twice as interesting
     
    wlwhittier likes this.
  9. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    wlwhittier likes this.
  10. 916Bulldogs123

    916Bulldogs123 Well-Known Member

    I haven't seen it before either. Very neat piece.
    The Japanese made some interesting items for sure. I have a few whistling bird chirping sake bottles. But nothing like this.
    Mikey
     
    wlwhittier and charlie cheswick like this.
  11. kentworld

    kentworld Well-Known Member

    Cool! Something most of us haven't seen before. I haven't. A tad creepy but would make you laugh rather than scream, LOL.
     
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