Featured Vintage Tiny Resin Sculpture - Where? Is this Newer?

The detail of this piece is astonishing for something that is 1 5/8 inch tall and 2 inches long. I am going to assume they made a rubber mold of some famous piece and made these as tourist objects. I am wondering where it is depicting. There appear to be two buffalos, a house and some trees, and a spiral rising out of the woods. I am going to assume somewhere in Asia.

Anyone have a guess about what the original object was that it is molded from? Was it Jade, ivory, bone? I have seen tiny carved objects with those materials in museums, but don't recognize the style. Is it older?

Please any comments.

As usual, I had help.

 

I can't help, but great photos.

 

I bet you like the one with Riley best!

 

well I must admit I am terrified of cats, but yours does look adorable.

 

I'm sad you fear cats. Riley would purr you into loving her.

 

I’m seeing a carving rather than a casting. Can’t see any of the usual tiny air holes or any mould seam lines, would be very difficult to cast with all the undercuts and holey bits. See what others think, this is confusing me as it’s not bone as I can’t see any dark capillary marks.

 

Hmmm. I just guessed that was the method. It didn't look like bone to me either.

 

Love the piece. I also like your Guard-Cat.

 

Thank you. I snatched it up immediately. She is always in the light box when I take photos. I usually scooch her over to the side.

 

The Asian carved thingy is cute
The cat is gorgeous!

 

She thinks so. That's why she wants to be in every photo.
So, you think the Asian thingy is carved too.

 

The "spiral" is a pagoda.

Most things of this sort that I have seen (and one I own) were carved out of soapstone. I've never seen completely white soapstone but is it possible that someone else here has?

 

I hadn't considered stone. Interesting idea.

 

Pagodas are Japanese, right?

 

normally

 

Have you ruled out ivory? It looks like ivory to me.

 

I can't tell. I can't find any traces, but I only know what I've seen here in discussions. @2manybooks had some nice links.

 

Riley SURE puts the item in size perspective!!!!!!!!!! She's GORGEOUS!!! Long time ago we used to have some Siamese!!!!

 

Excellent. I didn't know that. Thank you.