Old Carved Ball and Slider in Cage Whimsy with Warm Patina rocker Heuss in 1942

Heuss in 1942

and signed on the bottom with what I believe is a Japanese character or two

with sort of a scalloping to the walls of the cage

Box is in very good structural condition and with a great old dry wood patina

hand-sewn of oil cloth I think at least a hundred years ago

Old Carved Ball and Slider in Cage Whimsy with Warm Patina rocker Heuss in 1942A large and chunky one, of the sort that one might want to keep on the desk as a sort of fidget toy, watching the the ball and square slide back and forth while thinking or procrastinating! More crude than refined in its carving, but satisfying in its heft and folkiness. 10 5 8" l x 1 7 8" w x 1 11 16" d and in good condition, with a nice warn dry wood patina. C. 2nd quarter 20th century I would guess.