Might be selenite. That sometimes can have a shell-like look, but I believe it's very soft.
Sure doesn't look like 1874 to me. To my eye that has hippy written all over it... à la Robert Crumb, Gilbert Shelton.
Onyx?
Another view of the same building: [ATTACH]
Finding another example online would clinch the issue.
I'm gonna guess Zsolnay, Pecs, Hungary. I have this figurine: [ATTACH] [ATTACH]
I find Michael Ryba 1947-2014 online. I think that's entirely reasonable given the style.
I had similar, sold by HomeSense in Canada: [ATTACH]
[ATTACH] [ATTACH]
Phoenix in the bone pendant.
It's not a netsuke, but that's all I've got.
I am also amazed you were able to find one. It doesn't look like the sort of item that would be readily available.
It does appear to be a granular material. I wonder if the application draws on lacquer techniques like maki-e.
I've read that getting that feathered effect is the result of painting the glass with a particular glue. As the glue dries, it shrinks, but it...
It's a Montgolfier Balloon. [ATTACH] The Mongolfiers were paper manufacturers, and the balloon was made of paper-lined silk and first launched...
And another "Wiener Bronzen", but this appears to be in German. The subtitle is "Bronze Miniatures of the Turn of the Century":...
Probably the one you found (seems to be much the same price), but you might want to look up "Antique Vienna Bronzes", by Joseph Zobel. Always...
@Cherryhill hasn't been around much lately, but he's the Heisey guy.
Could be metal of some kind - bronze/brass/white. Patination can be added to any of them. Doesn't look like there's any wear.
Looks very professional to me. Unless the time is that important to you, I don't see a need to hire a professional photographer.
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