MEIJI Period? Japanese Necklace

I was told this necklace is from the Meiji period. Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

 

Unless someone can verify the mark on the back and determine the time period they carved,no one can give a date or time period.

 

It's important to remember that Japan's Meiji period was (roughly) equivalent to the Victorian + Edwardian periods in the West. Your necklace appears to be late 20th century (if not newer.)

Debora

 

It's worse than that Jim, it's ivory. It's probably 1980s or something, about the latest time ivory could be exported easily.

 

Awww...so cute !!

 

v-l-f, what is the size of this? Is there a hidden clasp here?


I would be wary of a seller's claim that an ivory item is Meiji period. It is safer for seller & more appealing to potential buyers to see ivory as antique, but something about this piece feels wrong to me. I think it is mainly the flat-backed carved plaque, when Japan is so noted for work in the round, & the way the plaque is attached to the beads, like something a home crafts person would do. It is easy enough to make ivory look old. My guess is this is modern Chinese meant to look Japanese.

 

Here's a (roughly) similar new item advertised as mammoth ivory.



Debora

 

WOW! Very interesting replies! THANKS to all who have contributed. Debora, what is that example you posted selling for?

 

My only thought would be that (to me!!) I think the ink around the boy’s eyes looks a bit sloppy...... otherwise I really like it......but I gather Ivory is still a problem.......?

 

The 'cute big head' style of the necklace is very recent.

Mammoth ivory is ok in many countries, although there is concern about the 'harvesting' of ancient mammoth tusks. I don't know the details, just that more and more tusks surface from Siberian ice as a result of global warming.
And you have to be really sure it is mammoth ivory and not elephant.


Cross sections of elephant (left) and mammoth tusks (right) with outer Schreger lines marked, showing characteristic angle difference.
https://makezine.com/2012/03/29/how-to-tell-mammoth-ivory-from-elephant-ivory/

This is the problem when people don't know or check the Schreger line difference:
https://news.nationalgeographic.com...-trade-legal-china-african-elephant-poaching/

 

Found it on the web site below. Link will bring up similar one with what I consider to be "you wish" pricing (unless it's not in U.S. dollars.) If you do internet search for "mammoth ivory necklace carved netsuke" others will come up. They appear to be recent Chinese imports.

http://www.carolbarrettjewelry.com/...-Ivory-Fish-Mammoth-Ivory-Necklace/p/36823886

Debora

 

Interesting and informative thread. Thanks, all--

 

well carved ivory item. the two characters on back are chinese柳月，LIU YUE, which looks like the makers name because it is not a description of the item. consider the ivory color for age, and ivory price is super high in china in the past 20 years, and government ban, i would guess this was an export item in 1980s

 

I would agree with that date.

Debora