Help in identifying the signature on a Japanese ivory okimono stated to be from the Meiji-Taisho period

[Bob B]

Could someone please (1) identify the two kanji characters in this seal, and (2) if possible, say whether they correspond to a known Meiji ivory or okimono carver? Any information about the likely reading of the name, school or workshop, or approximate date within the Meiji–Taishō period would be greatly appreciated.

[Bugyotsuji]

柴山工

Work by Shibayama? The signature

芝工 looks very weak, so I would skip any attempt to understand why it was written like this, i.e. probably in order to give a cursory impression of Shibayama.

 

(The decorations under the base look to have been undertaken to hide the natural cracking.)

[Matsunoki]

Bob and I have discussed this elsewhere but just to be clear this is definitely not shibayama mei or work as @Bugyotsuji correctly infers. 
 

[Hiro]

Hi,

At first glance, I also thought it was “芝” ,  but after looking more carefully, I began to think it might actually be “艺”.

The character form 「艺」 is used in Chinese simplified script（簡体字）.

艺 wiktionary

it would result in the somewhat unusual situation of the sculpture appearing Japanese in style while the name is written in Chinese script.

Would it perhaps be more natural, after all, to regard this as “芝”…?

Edited May 15 by Hiro

[PietroParis]

On 5/15/2026 at 1:24 PM, Hiro said:

it would result in the somewhat unusual situation of the sculpture appearing Japanese in style while the name is written in Chinese script.

An obvious explanation would be that this is an imitation made in China or Hong Kong (and I would guess quite later than Taisho).

Edited May 19 by PietroParis