Although the label has long ago fallen off, this is a rare Cryptomeria Wood carved Kitty Cat from Japan. It has “Japan” carved on the bottom. Cryptomeria is a native wood in Japan that is found in limited areas. It if often referred to as Japanese Cedar, although it is not actually a Cedar wood. It has a grain design that is highly prized and desired. This is most likely from the 1960s to early 1970s and was probably made in the Japanese Village of Samegai, known for this type of carving.

This adorable little cat has so much character and personality. He measures approximately 3 1/2 inches tall. He is in great vintage condition as you can see by the enlarged photographs. There is a break in the grain carving at the bottom circles, there is a gouge in the wood, but it looks to be caused from an error in the original carving of the piece (see photos). He has inset glass eyes, black nose and nylon whiskers. The attached tail appears to be a wire tail coated with a rubber or plastic. He would make a perfect addition to your collection of cats or Japanese handcrafted items.

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