UP FOR SALE: Authentic vintage Japanese ojime bead depicting the Zodiac Dog, hand-carved in the early?mid Showa era (1930s?1950s). This piece features excellent carving detail with an expressive muzzle, tucked paws, rounded zodiac posture, and a clear two-kanji artisan signature on the underside. Beautiful natural patina with darkened recesses that only form on older beads. Created using the traditional laminated construction technique used by Japanese carving workshops of the period, allowing for a strong, smoothly rounded form prior to fine detailing. The Dog is one of the more popular zodiac subjects and this example shows quality, personality, and age. Approx size: ~1 inch Type: Ojime bead (listed under Netsuke category) Zodiac Animal: Dog Signed: Yes Origin: Japan Era: Early?Mid Showa (circa 1930s?50s) Condition: Excellent vintage patina, no cracks, no repairs A superb collector piece ? early signed bone ojime like this are getting harder to find and are highly sought after. I?m listing several other signed mid-century Japanese zodiac ojime from the same workshop. If you collect these, check my other listings ? they?re all different animals and all hand-carved bone. AS IS AS SHOWN ? Please check out all the pics and zoom in for the best look. Photos tell the story better than I ever could! Thanks so much for looking! Vintage and secondhand goodies usually have some character (aka flaws). I do my best to describe everything honestly, but I?m no expert. What you see is what you get. All my stuff comes from a smoke-free home and gets a good cleaning before it heads out. I ship Monday through Saturday fast and packed with care! Colors might look a little different depending on your screen and lighting. Props are just for show -- only the item(s) listed in the title are included. Got a problem? Message me first! I'm easy to work with and want you to be happy! Poke around my store if you want, I am happy to bundle shipping! Visit my Store for more great finds!