Antiques and Collectables for Pleasure & Profit SUMMER 2013 | Page 18

what’s it

worth?
Could you please give me some
information on the pictured
item. First of all, is it bone or
ivory? It has a lovely light gold
colour to it but age could have
this as it has never been
cleaned and it belonged to my
grandmother who was born in
the late 1880s. She travelled a
lot and I think the item is at
least 100 years old, if not more.

It is Japanese or Chinese?
The artist’s signature is on the
bottom and I hope you can
decipher it. Is it a netsuke or
something else? It measures
37mm wide and the same
height. The base at the widest
point is 20mm so you can see
it’s not very big, but the detail
in the carving is exquisite. You
can even see the heels and
stitching of the shoes on the
base. There appears to be a
fault in the rear, near the
donkey’s haunch. I say fault,
because this has not opened to
expose the inner material. I
was told it was a carving of a
sage who would travel from
village to village telling
fortunes. Do you think this is
the truth? And last but not
least, please could you
give me a valuation
as I haven’t a clue as
to its worth.
Yours sincerely,
Barbara S.,
Medowie,
New South
Wales.
IAN
ARMSTRONG
REPLIES: You have
what is an obviously

old netsuke-like piece, Barbara,
with an interesting provenance.
It is more yellow than I would
have expected, but from your
photo of the base I believe I can
see the astragal grain typical of
ivory. Having said that, it will
need to be seen by an expert for
verification. Netsukes were
Japanese made and designed as
toggles for costume fastening.
They should have two holes for
insertion of a cord, and I don’t
believe yours has these. As a nice
piece of old carving I value it at
around $300, if it is ivory.
We have had this item for some
while now and were wondering
about its value. We’re calling on
you to find some answers
please. We do know a little

about the item: we know that
it’s Maling and it is marked
with the numbers 5353. The
mark is faded gold but it does
suggest Maling. It has two big
dragons around the side and
enameling to both the inside
and the outside. It’s 25cm and
has a grand shine. It’s in perfect
order. Thank you, Brad and
Justine via email.
DOUG MULLEY REPLIES:
Your bowl is a nice example of
Maling’s excellent design and
craftsmanship, Brad and
Justine. The pattern was
introduced c.1930-32.
Some background on
the pottery: Maling
began as North
Hylton Pottery on the
River Wear in 1762.
Production was transferred
to Newca