Item description / significance
The seller labeled this as a horse, one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, but this is obviously a donkey. Approx. 13 cm tall, 24 cm long.
I say “obviously”, but why, exactly? Upon consideration, I can say: It’s a donkey first and foremost because the ears are long. Moreover, the face is short, and the tail is rope-like, like a lion’s tail. Also, there’s not much mane, and although many donkeys are brown, gray is possibly the most typical donkey color. I rest my case.
I have named him Eyeore, because he seems a bit downcast.
Bought where
on Xianyu, the Chinese second-hand marketplace app
Age and origin
like new, age and origin unknown
What I like about it
The realism. He looks like he could get up and walk away, but doesn’t want to. His form and coloring are natural. He isn’t cartoony or cutesey or anthropomorphized. He isn’t decorated with colorful abstract patterns.
The lack of accessories. He’s not wearing a halter, saddle, or saddlebags. He’s not pulling a cart. He’s at rest. Perhaps he belongs in a nativity scene…
See below for something surprising I learned, plus photos from the seller.
Other notes
Oh, oh, get this! My donkey is a shameless copy of a Spanish Lladro “mule” from a nativity scene! I was so right!
brown Lladro mule on Lladro site (out of stock)
brown Lladro mule on Amazon ($335)
brown/gray Lladro mule on Amazon ($291)
white and gold Lladro mule on Lladro site ($305)
Too bad my donkey isn’t actually made by Lladro. Then it would be worth something! But it doesn’t have any Lladro mark on the bottom, and doesn’t look exactly like the Lladro donkeys I’m seeing for sale online.
It’s interesting, isn’t it, how what we know influences what we see. The Chinese seller grew up celebrating Chinese New Year, and one out of every twelve years has a horse theme. I grew up celebrating Christmas, and a donkey is typically part of the nativity scene. Also, I grew up with Pooh and Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore.
Seller photos
This last photo, for me, evokes the “I don’t always…” man; I’ve seen people make “I don’t always…” memes with dogs that have their leg over the edge of a sofa.
