Need Help ID Oriental Ivory (?) Figurine

[Debbelle]

Hi, My mom had this for many, many years, but I don't know anything about it. I think it is ivory - but, don't know for sure. I have searched the internet and books to find something like it - especially where this very elongated head on the bottom 'father' figure originates from. Can anyone please help me with this. There are no identifying marks on the piece. The bottom looks like a piece of metal may be in the middle...? perhaps from securing it on a stand. It weighs over 10 oz

[fancypants]

Welcome to the forum , Debbelle .

Nice dolichocephalic crania carving .

Could you please post the dimentions of your item ?

My initial guess is that your item is indeed japanese ivory , perhaps 19th century .

[waywardangler]

Thanks, fancypants, for adding to my knowledge of the week. I had to go look up dolichocephalic. 

The base does look like ivory tooth or tusk. I see the cross hatching and rings. The other pics are quite small and do not enlarge to show much detail.

[fancypants]

You're welcome , waywardangler .

Just don't let it go to your head ......

[waywardangler]

It would be too expensive if i did...I would have to get all new hats and then where would I even find the pointy head ones?  I guess I could shop where the highway department does. The color selection is just not that expansive. 

[mart]

Have you checked on the bottom with a heated pin to see if it is indeed ivory?? Pics do not enlarge so can`t see any detail !!

[Debbelle]

Hi, Thanks for the new word....will have to look it up!

It is about 9" high, the base is approximately 2" in diameter.

When I first tried to post the pictures, it said my file was too big and wouldn't take it. So, I went and reduced the pictures quite a bit and then it took it. Is there another way to post them so that they will show larger? I could try to experiment with sizes and see what the largest is it will take.

Thanks for info so far.

[waywardangler]

Maximum pic size is 2000 Kb and 4 pics per post. You are well under the size limit. One thing you could do is crop the pics so only the ivory figure is in the pic. That would allow a larger pic of the subject without the extraneous background that just eats up space.

[Debbelle]

Here goes. These should be small enough, but still large enough to see better.

[Debbelle]

Had to break it up into 2 posts.

P.S. I heated up a pin til the tip was red and tried to insert it into the bottom. It did not puncture or make any mark at all on the piece.

[waywardangler]

The title of this piece is..."The View from a Dolichocephalic Head".

[sapphire]

I'm wondering if this figurine is symbolic of Fukurokuju (The god of wealth, happiness, and longevity).  Flipping through images I came across the name and a brief description so did a little more digging........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukurokuju

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/fukurokuju.shtml

"Fukurokuji is usually represented in the form of a little old man, with beard and moustache, with a bald head three times the height of his body."

 

[fancypants]

That was my first thought on the item (Fukurokuju) too , sapphire ;
never seen one with the preist on the head , though .

One thing for certain (catagory-wise , that is) is that this item is known as an Okimono .... I'd bet my ama geta on it !
I am uncertain if this is of bungyo production , however .

Have to do an eye-search on the new images (on my slo-mo dial-up) & look for a pair of horns (recently removed) anywhere depicted in the item .

[Debbelle]

That's really funny that you would mention that because I came across the same thing after researching some of the things stated here. Also - interestingly - one of your links refers to Juroujin (one of the 7 Japanese gods) as being Fukurokuju's grandson. Is it possible that the top figure could be Juroujin???

[waywardangler]

The top figure does not match one of the 7 gods and the "Fukurokuju" figure does not have his usual trappings. Are there other Chinese figures with the large bald head?