Antique Japanese Handcarved Inkan Marble Stamp Zodiac Tiger 3” Shogiban harmonizing utility with elegance

harmonizing utility with elegance

This chest was made in the mid Meiji era (1868-1912) of keyaki (zelkova Japanese elm) front and sugi (cryptomeria) interiors

This one is 10"" tall and covered with very decorative calligraphy

Photography: Aya Brackett

Antique Japanese Handcarved Inkan Marble Stamp Zodiac Tiger 3” Shogiban harmonizing utility with eleganceThis is a vintage Chinese late marble or hard igneous stone name stamp known as an inkan. In Japan and China one does not sign, but rather stamp ones name with a chop or inkan like this one. This inkan has a hand carved Tiger motif on top with a name carved on its flat bottom. The Tiger carving is very well done (see close up pictures). Likely inscribed with a poem. This over a half century old inkan stamp measures 3" tall by 2" wide by 1 1 8 thick.