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I've been going through pieces left to me by my Grandparents, and keep getting stumped on marks.

The first link is a white and grey carved Buddha. I don't know what it's mace or of, but it's very heavy for its size. It has a calligraphy mark on the front, and a seal mark on the back.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mu8ya7v3zwfzosy/AABSztJFwW95JeGOmMalDdK4a?dl=0

The second is a porcelain Buddha. It has a impressed mark on the base.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tg6l8m7svf2qx6n/AABw9VCpNXt-RdXQQsNm2CvWa?dl=0


Any help is much appreciated!

Both figures are Japanese, Hotei, the most popular of the Seven Lucky Gods, or Gods of Good Fortune. He is a sort of Japanese Santa, his sack filled with gifts. The first is soapstone (the mineral talc), and unusual on several points. It is very difficult to date, most are offered by sellers as vintage, and I have only seen one piece dated, from a 1935 San Diego Expo. I think yours may be the oldest I've seen and hope that someone here can date it from the marks. The crack in what appears to be a hollowed tree stump is probably carved.
The mark (first photo) on the porcelain figure is upside down, the second kanji is 'zan', part of a name. Perhaps some others here will fill in the blanks. Regards, Jim

Thank you for the information, it's much appreciated. It is old and took a lot of work to get it clean to its current point. I find the history fascinating,thanks for helping.

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