Matsunoki

Yep, I’d buy that suggestion. Occam’s razor in action. 🙂

It’s Japanese. Colours are wrong for Chinese. Porcelain body is a bit too “blue”.

Looking at the Imari palette this Arita porcelain is 19thC, possibly even early Meiji……and quite possibly “export” Doesn’t have the look or artistry of earlier period pieces…..imo🙂 Also the unglazed strange style of the base suggests it may have had a stand or sat in something.

Quite a puzzle. Never seen one. Hanging plant pot is logical although I would expect the exterior to be more heavily decorated as (depending on height of suspension) it would be easily seen. Possibly a hanging censer? Dunno.

So sad.

You can use a magnet to see which components are steel/iron vs fibreglass, resin or other material. it will help you to know what exactly you have bought. Although new, a lot of work has gone into assembling it. Absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying this as a highly decorative display item (for a fraction of the cost of the Edo equivalent) These armours are usually available in the $1500-2000 range although some are horrendously priced on eBay and misdescribed as Edo or “genuine vintage” (whatever that means) I have recently started to collect armour……it can be rather addictive and is certainly very very challenging as there is so little reliable written information in English (compared to swords or stamps or coins etc🙂) if you get “hooked” and want to progress start with components….masks…Kabuto and exercise extreme caution seeking advice before diving in. Pieces in poor condition can be bought for very little yet can still be interesting. PS……I’m what Bowie would describe as an “absolute beginner”

The pair of figures are more modern “gift shop” material and I doubt they contain any ivory. More likely plastic and bone. Apologies!

Hi Gerry The first ivory….the woodcutter. What you have here is a late Meiji period sectional elephant ivory okimono. The okimono that emerged during mid Meiji are amongst the finest ivory carvings ever created. They can be astonishing works carved from a solid block. The demand for these grew rapidly and to satisfy that demand the ingenious Japanese started to produce similar looking but lower quality works using assorted offcuts of ivory that were worked and cunningly pegged together with expertly concealed joints. They were produced in large numbers by workshops that employed a variety of skills. Different carvers would produce things like the heads, hands and feet whilst lesser talent would carve the various torso components. This was obviously a much cheaper method than using the hugely expensive solid blocks cut from substantial tusks. It was also much quicker due to many people working in collaboration. Your woodcutter is such piece. Don’t know if you have ever looked closely but the head (in this case too big for the body) is separate, the arms are separate joined at the shoulders, the forearms are separate joined where they insert into the robes. The upper torso is separate to the lower joined just above the sash, the legs will be separate etc etc These “lookalikes” are worth only a small fraction of their higher quality monoblock predecessors and of course with current ivory laws etc they are as you say, difficult to sell. Date wise yours is somewhere in the 1880-1910 range. I have had many of these spread across my restoration bench over the years when the glue gives way and they fall apart! Out of interest here is an example of a similar subject from Bonhams but of a much higher quality and value…. I hope I have not offended or disappointed you. All the best Colin

I can tell you exactly what this is provided you don’t get offended. You don’t need to send it anywhere. Should I go ahead?

Beautiful high quality Meiji bronze. Probably by Genryusai Seiya. One the greatest Meiji studios. They made these in various sizes but this is one of the largest I’ve seen. Do you own it or thinking of buying it?

Michael, I am equally happy to praise and often do but what I have pointed out about the British Museum and its problems is factual, not an opinion.…..and maybe the the critical overtones are justified…..the video in question certainly does not deserve much praise does it? The BM holds far more stuff than it can ever really look after adequately let alone display to the public and whilst facilitating private viewings is admirable that isn’t what is under discussion. What is the actual reality?

Some of these notions are justified……..I wonder if a full inventory of the Japanese collection has ever been undertaken? Yes, the museum may facilitate private study of some objects, but that is not what the debate is here.

I only lasted about 4 mins into the video. Embarrassing to think this the best they can do.

Sadly that damage was probably fatal for the wearer. The hole does not immediately look like a matchlock projectile strike to me but something rather more powerful. Can we see the underside of that damage please? Pure speculation but this could have been worn in the face of the better equipped Imperial forces? @Bugyotsuji…..what do you think?

Beats watching the telly🙂