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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: ryan27 on March 15, 2013, 09:57:43 PM

Title: Japanese Ivory
Post by: ryan27 on March 15, 2013, 09:57:43 PM

Any knowledge of this as far as age/use/value

Title: Re: Japanese Ivory
Post by: Ipcress on March 16, 2013, 05:56:57 AM

Looks fairly recent and i wouldn't be convinced it was ivory but the light in the pics is poor - any chance of a close up in better light, please  ?

Title: Re: Japanese Ivory
Post by: ghopper1924 on March 16, 2013, 06:09:17 AM

Looks like earthenware.

Title: Re: Japanese Ivory
Post by: Ipcress on March 16, 2013, 06:14:15 AM

Could be treated ox bone, often a cheap alternative to ivory.

Title: Re: Japanese Ivory
Post by: ryan27 on March 16, 2013, 08:05:02 AM

This family was in japan in the early 1900s I wanna say 20-30 if that helps. I do also know they traveled a lot so they could have gone other times that I dont know about. I do know for sure it was not made this cannot be post 1970

Title: Re: Japanese Ivory
Post by: ryan27 on March 16, 2013, 08:33:18 AM

Initials are carved on both pieces if that helps in any way

Title: Re: Japanese Ivory
Post by: Ipcress on March 16, 2013, 09:05:07 AM

Better pictures have helped

Are you sure they didn't visit the Cantonese area of China, too ? Although both countries copied each others antiquities.

Appears to be some grain there and looks more like ivory in the better light.

I catalogued this Cantonese sewing / work box for auction. It was made c1840 and the quality and detail was superb

(http://i48.tinypic.com/24brajs.jpg)

Close up of one of the panels. Note that the figures were miniscule yet still detailed with features.

(http://i48.tinypic.com/2edccvp.jpg)

Title: Re: Japanese Ivory
Post by: greenacres on March 16, 2013, 11:18:34 AM

I have a cinnabar ginger jar that looks similar to the box.

Title: Re: Japanese Ivory
Post by: mart on March 16, 2013, 12:46:56 PM

The enlargements are a blur but I could see some faint veining on the underside of the top !! Too blurry to see if it showed the crosshatching of ivory but I don`t think it does !! The veining would make me think it was carved alabaster !!
You didnt say how big this is but it looks like a simple trinket box !! Not uncommon !!