Description
This is a set of 3 figurines that I believe to be of Japanese origin. They were purchased a few years ago at an estate auction of a man who had been stationed in Japan during the war. He had accumulated quite a large collection of items and these were part of them. They each measure approximately 3 inches high and weigh about 3-3.5oz. each. I have no idea what material they are made of and as you can see, on one of them, it looks as though it had been attached to something wooden at one point. I am interested to find out what they are worth.
Re: Set of 3 Oriental Figurines
You need to first determine what they are made of. A quick test that you can do it to heat the sharp end of a safety pin until it is red hot. Just hold it at the tip of a flame until it glows red. Immediately touch it to the base of one of your figurines. If the material is bone or ivory, the pin will not penetrate at all. If the pin sinks in then you are dealing with a man-made material of some type and the figures probably have little value to collectors.
If the pin did not penetrate the material, then it is probably either bone or ivory. Smell the spot where you touched the pin to the object. Ivory should have no odor at all while bone might smell slightly like burning hair. Get yourself a jeweler's loupe or a really really good magnifying glass and examine the material. Bone will have tiny flecks of marrow, usually seen as dark spots on the surface but they are often bleached. Ivory tends to be smoother, less pitted and denser than bone.
Re: Set of 3 Oriental Figurines
These are definitely not Japanese, but Chinese. They look like bone, but could be a type of resin. Show them to an antque dealer in Asian arts. He should be able to tell quickly with a magnifying glass, including their value.