Accurate Description of Item
One Bronze Hermit Crab with a Captured Minnow.
Appraiser Remarks
This is actually a bronze of a Hermit Crab, which use empty snail shells the way turtles do, for protection. Every time the Hermit crab grows they have to find a larger shell to protect their soft abdomen parts. From what I can see the marking looks oriental, but I can't make it out, which is not unusual as most of these small bronzes of sealife tend to be either Japanese or Chinese, most dating from the late 19th century through the 1920's .The Japanese examples were made by artisans who formerly marketed to the Samurai Class, which was outlawed in the 1870's, most of the markings they used are still not well researched. These are highly collectible items, very few like this even sell at auction for less than $350.00.
Estimated Value
$500.00- $750.00
Re: Bronze Lobster Figure
One Bronze Hermit Crab with a Captured Minnow.
This is actually a bronze of a Hermit Crab, which use empty snail shells the way turtles do, for protection. Every time the Hermit crab grows they have to find a larger shell to protect their soft abdomen parts. From what I can see the marking looks oriental, but I can't make it out, which is not unusual as most of these small bronzes of sealife tend to be either Japanese or Chinese, most dating from the late 19th century through the 1920's .The Japanese examples were made by artisans who formerly marketed to the Samurai Class, which was outlawed in the 1870's, most of the markings they used are still not well researched. These are highly collectible items, very few like this even sell at auction for less than $350.00.