Teeny Bronze Elephant Okimono

Can anyone decipher the mark on this little guy? He is tiny at 2.75" tall... Nice quality.

Thanks!

Sorry - I want to dust off that mark. I'll take a better image later, if needed

 

Thanks @i need help!

@Phaik Hooi
@Asian Fever
@Any Jewelry

 

@Asian Fever
@Phaik Hooi
@Any Jewelry
@Silver Wolf

I'm pretty sure he is part of a tableau... I've seen similar, but a bit larger and subtle differences in posture.

Anyway, if no Mark ID, maybe date?

 

Sorry for the dupe - original it didn't show up, fsr

 

That is so cute, scouts. The mark isn't very clear, maybe someone can tweak the photo? Aquitaine, Bronwen maybe?
The cavity in the other foot could have held a red lacquer seal placque with a signature.

 

It's stuffed with some kind of fiber or cork? Thanks, @Any Jewelry

Hope this is better

 

Two feet have those plugs. Right driver's side and left rear passenger side.

 

Yes, it is. Now we just need someone who can read Japanese. And who can read this particular mark....

 

I just noticed that for some reason my tags didn't work, the @ symbols just vanished.
Doesn't matter, you did a great job with the last photo, scouts.

 

I wonder whether the tag notifications are malfunctioning again? I notice that you were the only one who checked in after scoutshouse tagged some people. Or maybe they just haven't been around here, or have turned off their notifications.

 

I think that might be it. Silver Wolf hasn't been around for some time.

 

Thanks @Figtree3 and @Any Jewelry

@Asian Fever
@Phaik Hooi
@Silver Wolf

Come back!

No response so far on Asian forum, @i need help

 

Sold eBay dated late 19th c
3.5" tall
Signed differently, a bit larger

Fine Signed Antique Japanese Bronze Elephant, Okimono, Meiji

 

Thanks!

 

It can take time on the Asian forum and many questions never get answered. I wander in there occasionally and answer some that have been waiting for a long time. There is a lot of misinformation there, but the Chinese and Japanese items are usually properly identified.

 

I did!!

Reads 'Seiya' (せいや) in hiragana, a maker's mark of the workshop of Genryusai Seiya in Tokyo. Date ca. 1890-1900.

I did see せいや on the piece below yesterday - identified as Genryusai Seiya - too hard for me to match up.



Here's a mark on a very similar piece they thought might be fake .

They asked to see the full piece and confirmed it fake.


So far, the piece I have is the tiniest I've seen. I asked if it was part of a group or stood alone on a thin wooden platform like most I've seen.

How fun and thank you for that suggestion, @i need help !