Carved ivory perfume bottle

A very small bottle, just 5.5 cm tall, 3 cm wide, 0.8 in thickness.
Not the best photos but it is ivory it has the grid like pattern under the skin so to speak, my problem is in the last photos.
I need some hep identifying the writing. Not sure what language it is. The piece looks Japanese to me, but i could be wrong.
Im basically trying to figure out a time period and the meaning of the script. I flipped it in the last photo cos i cant really tell witch side is up.
Hope someone makes sense of it.

 

It is a snuff bottle rather than a perfume bottle.
Although snuff bottles are generally Chinese, some were made in Japan for the Chinese market. Those were usually much more elaborately carved and dyed than the Chinese ones.
I haven't seen this particular bottle before, but I think it could be one of the Japanese made ones. Datewise ca 1900-1910 imo.

The writing is probably the maker's name, just like on netsukes. I will tag @shamster for you, maybe she can read what it says.

 

Ty for the quik reply. Looked Japanese to me and i was a bit confused about the dragon on one side, if it is a dragon. But it makes sense if it was created for the Chinese market.
Any clues about the time period ?

 

Yes, it is a dragon. The Japanese also depicted dragons.

Found some related snuff bottles.
This snuff bottle is unusually flat, just like yours, the seller also says Japanese:

https://www.lot-art.com/auction-lot...ottle-ea/513-japanese_carved-02.8.21-gorringe

This one has elephants on the sides, like yours:

https://vendora.gr/items/o5x56y/asiatiki-techni-aromatodochio-20ou-eona-3.html

The seller says Asian perfume bottle, but it is a snuff bottle. It shows an asking price.

 

wiwhittier i saw it. The reply was edited to include that info after the initial convo.

I have another piece 4 your help. I got it as a package deal with the bottle, it didn't look right, but the price was ok enough that i ended up buying them both.
Thing that didn't look right was the base, way too new, modern looking pins when i took it apart, and no aging at all around the pin holes.
On closer look the figurine itself is also ivory, carved and inked, same grid-like pattern in the cross-section, and removing the base, it can stand o its own just fine. Wondering if someone messed with it, drilled some holes and stuck it on a base.
Does she look like a Japanese or a Chinese piece ?
Also small , 7.5 cm tall as it sits now, without the base.

 

Are U a NEW MEMBER, just found this site,LOOK HERE 1st ....

 

I edited the post before you replied, but you were probably already on the page and didn't renew it. No problem, you got your answer.

Chinese.

I think it could be original. It is a souvenir from the second half of the 20th century. She is charming, but not the best quality. The base and way of attaching it match the quality of the carving. It is the quality usually found in bone carvings.

 

Thank you.

Bit problematic cos i wouldn't have touched it if i known it was so close When you say second part of the 20th century what do you mean ? Asking because it is 4 sure ivory and not bone or some sort of composite.
Is it closer to 1950 or to the date ivory trade became illegal ?

Prob should have passed it but the price was low enough that i would have gladly payed that just 4 the bottle.

 

My guess is 1980s. When I was in Hong Kong in the 70s the shops were still full of ivory carvings, and the manufacture and trade went on long after that. According to this publication by the Hong Kong government, the full ban on ivory trade was implemented on December 31st 2021.

https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2021/12/20211231/20211231_112532_966.html

There is so much post-Cites ivory about that it is best not to buy any ivory. Most people can't assess the age of ivory carvings anyway, so the best thing is to leave it where it is and not support poaching. Ivory poaching is a million dollar business that is done by ruthless criminal gangs. It costs the lives not only of the elephants but also of many brave wildlife guards.