Featured IVORY BUDDHA NECKLACE - AGE?

Can anyone tell me the age of this piece? I know it's at least from the '70s because I remember my mom wearing it, but if we are going to be able to sell it, it has to be a antique - I'm hoping someone can tell me who the artist was (and born/die dates) from the signature on the bottom of one of the buddha's feet?
Closer I got the more blurry the signature/mark got - sorry. If no one can make it out I'll try again with my phone

Thank you; I appreciate any help!

 

Maybe this is better?

 

Maybe it goes this way?

 

That's not the Buddha, but could be one of the Japanese gods or immortals.

 

Is that a bird on his shoulder?

 

My first guess would be early to mid 1980s on the whole thing. The figurine doesn't look any older. Sorry.

 

Never seen an Ivory Netsuke used on a necklace before.
Someones idea of fashion, I guess.
I don't see much age so 70's.....sounds about right....

 

I agree with dating.

Debora

 

I remember seeing these in New York in 1982. They were brand new then, in spite of Cites.

 

A friend of mine calls ivory "bone" when he sells it. That way he can plead ignorance if called out on it.He figures whoever buys it will know. Slightly shady I know,but it works for him as he sells quite a bit of it.

 

I've seen more people doing that.

 

Ox Bone is now banned from Ebay as a search term, even if you're selling ox bone - too many people used it to mean Ivory. In my state you can only sell ivory in-state if you can sell it at all. I"m not sure what the laws read this week; they keep changing.

 

Thanks all - no idea what the character means?

 

man holding his bird................?