Figure Japanese Bodhidharma (Daruma) Figure Made of Wood

Wooden depictions of Bodhidharma are comparatively rare, as the motif in Japan is traditionally rendered more often in ceramics or porcelain – making this finely carved figure of light-colored wood all the more appealing. A Kutani Daruma presumably served as the model for its design, recognizable by the characteristic head shape with the high, bald forehead and the round-rimmed, deep-set eyes.

The figure, wrapped in a wide robe, holds its hands folded in front of the body, while the slightly tilted head and the fine wrinkles around the eyes lend the face a contemplative, almost wistful quality. The light, warmly grained wood was worked with visible craftsmanship, with the grain itself contributing to the lively texture of the robe.

The figure was presumably made in the 1960s as a hand-worked one-of-a-kind piece. Due to the unusual choice of material for a motif otherwise usually executed in clay or porcelain, this Bodhidharma figure possesses a particular rarity value and a warm, expressive presence that clearly distinguishes it from comparable pieces.