posted on June 1, 2003 05:47:05 PM new
anyone identify this Chinese mark? This is a cute little figurine that is 2 inches tall. He looks like he is carring a bucket. I found him at the goodwill all by himself and I just couldn't let him stay there. He weighs almost an ounce.
posted on June 1, 2003 06:06:43 PM new
I'm not an expert...but your figure is adorable. I just found a GREAT site to check the mark. It's "gotheborg.com". Might want to check it out. Good luck!
posted on June 1, 2003 06:44:46 PM new
Okay here it is the other way. I have a problem with English.
He is just adorable. I looked around for the mom and dad but they were no where to be found. You know how they put things out in the goodwill if I go their next week I will find another piece.
If you look closly he has little points on his head and such a cute grin and his ears stick out straight. I don't know what he is made of. I know it isn't plastic as it seems harder than that.
posted on June 1, 2003 09:27:41 PM new
Years ago I sold an estate collection of ivory on eBay, including Chinese netsukes. The fanatically obsessed ivory collectors taught me a few things. The Chinese made netsuke reproductions out of a real hard plastic for the tourist trade, sold mostly in the airport gift shops. If the figure is made out of ivory, it is worth something. If it is plastic it isn't worth much, though real cute. You can test the figure by lighting a kitchen match, let it burn, blow it out so that the head is hot. Apply the hot match to the bottom of the figure. If it is ivory, nothing will happen except for a temporary ash mark which you can rub off. If it is plastic, you will leave an indentation. Another method to test is to use a needle, and dig it into the bottom. If it is ivory, there will be no hole. With plastic, there will be a little hole.
And be very careful about using the word ivory on eBay. You can't sell ivory products made after a certain, around 1960, so sellers of ivory will do things like say i*vory or a bone identical to i*vory, because eBay has a search machine that looks for key words that are banned on eBay. This way your auction runs. Even if the item is legit, made before 1960, and not imported into the US by you from a recently slain elephant, your auction will get canceled if you are not careful.
This is good information for any of you reading this. Ivory collectors in the US have bucks and will pay BIG MONEY on eBay auctions to get what they want,
posted on June 1, 2003 09:57:07 PM new
hotcupoftea I did the match test and it must be ivory because nothing happened. I did it twice to make sure. Now do you think this little guy will make some money or should I just keep it myself? I went into the marks but they are nothing I can relate to. Thanks alot for the information I really appreciate it.
posted on June 1, 2003 10:16:16 PM new
If it is ivory, then the piece is valuable. It is probably 19th century, not 20th century. The mark on the bottom will be the artist's mark.
My advice is to keep it until you know what you have. There are reference books on netsukes and Asian carved ivory objects which you can get through your library. The arved ivory objects have meaning, if they were carved for the Asian market, not the tourist trade. Just in knowing what the figure symbolizes and the artist's name can mean a difference of hundred of dollars in the bidding.
Also be warned. The ivory collectors can be mean and nasty. They all know each other and hate each other with passion. When you list it, or any ivory object, you will get at least a few emails asking you to cancel the auction and sell to them direct.
When you do list it, be sure to state that the "i*vory" figure passes the match and needle test. The collectors will know that this means the figure is ivory.
posted on June 2, 2003 01:45:48 AM new
Libra, telling true ivory is very difficult...this could also be some kind of bone..and anyone thinking they are buying real ivory will want the real thing.
I once had a set of figurines that had a sticker on the bottom saying "ivory on Teak", when I wanted to sell them I went to a local, high end auction house. The owner introduced me to 2 ivory "experts" who got into an argument as to whether the pieces were ivory or not...one saying yes, one swearing no...
I finally gave up and took them home.
I do know that true ivory has cells and layers, just like your skin...they both agreed on that.
posted on June 2, 2003 02:36:36 AM new
I can't say for certain by the pictures but it is probably resin. I see tons in China when I'm on buying trips. Cute but real inexpensive. A dollar or two.
Do you have a loop? Ivory will have a grain pattern. You actually should be able to see it without a loop. It appears a bit too shiny to me to be Ivory. He looks like a very hard plastic. I would do a pin test. I have an old Ivory pen (early 19th century) and it is still a whitish color and not yellow. It could also be bone if there is a grain. Ivory and bone will always have a grain. Check closely, is the design painted on or a stencil? Is the design carved into the piece or laid on top of it. With Ivory, it will almost always be carved into the piece and then painted.
A Netsuke was used as a toggle for robes or purses so I don't think this is a Netsuke. There appears there would be no way to connect this item to a belt or purse. Also, how tall is the figure? Netsukes were generally 1-2 inches tall.
No matter what he is, he sure is cute. He symbolizes something, but I can't put my finger on what. Maybe the fact that little boys are a bit on the devilish side? The mark on the bottom is an artist's signatue, but I am having a difficult time discerning it.
Cheryl
My religion is simple, my religion is kindness.
--Dalai Llama
posted on June 2, 2003 05:03:00 AM new
it is a chinese made japanese netsuke-made of alabaster stone which is a natural stone too hard to carve.
they ground it into powder and mixed with resin and then pour into mold to come up with the figurine,then paint it by machine and touched up by hand and then polished.
alabster stone mixed with resin takes polish very nicely and assemble ivory.
you see them in chinatown and in asia,they are not expensive.
the seal has two chinese characters-first is gold,the second can be translated as ocean or of a easy nature.
seals are also machine stamped,it really does not mean much.
posted on June 2, 2003 07:51:26 AM new
Someone asked if I had a loop. I can't find my highpowered magnifying glass right now in my eBay room I would never find a loop. . He is 2 inches high and the design is not carved in and painted. I will not sell it because I don't know what it is but he is so cute I am going to keep him. Thanks for all your suggestions and help.
I enjoy seeing what other people buy and ask on this board what it is. This brings knowledge to everyone. Someone always has an answer. I am not going to post names because all the intellegent people on this board know who they are and are appreciated. The posters like me that don't know a lot need a little help and I certainly don't have the money to buy a library to look everything up. This is a learning place besides a place to just sit and chat. Again, thanks to all
Now here are the rest of the pictures. I hope this works.
