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My Dad brought this ivory statue back from Japan after serving in the Pacific during WW II. I would appreciate it if anyone can help me by identifying the origin (Japanese or Chinese), the artist and an approximate age of the piece. The statue is 6 3/4 inches tall

The mark within a rectangular border on red ground seems to read 美山. The ivory figure is stylistically Japanese and possibly of longevity deity Jurojin.

According to the JDIC online dictionary, 美山 has three transcriptions, Bizan, Miyama and Yoshiyama. Among them, I got some Google hits on an ivory carver named Bizan, who was active in the late 19th- early 20th century. Please see following links for further information:

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/lot.979.html/2005/japanese-works-of-art-prints-and-paintings-l05861

http://forums.netsuke.org/post/clam-fishermen-anabori-netsuke-signed-7063610

Best regards,

Bill H.

Japanese. Your figure is called an 'okimono' and likely carved around the period it was purchased.

Thank you for your help.

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