Featured Netsuke, fine carving, signed, but not made as one originally?

They are red pandas and soooo cute. I don't know much about how they figure in Japanese folklore though, have to read up on that. The raccoon dog I don't know much about either except they were shapeshifters and generally friendly I think.

 

Isn't that typical? We never think of photographing things in our own collections!! Unless needing to find out something of course

 

A strange beast, bone for sure.
The cropped ears make me think of antique dogue walking sticks handles

 

Would not like to anger that wee doggie...the look on his face!

 

Could be a bear.

 

That was my first thought, looks a bit like a polar bear but could be a brown bear.