White porcelain figure

[carlyoung]

Hello all

I am wondering if anyone can take a look at this piece i have , I am trying to research it but don't know much about it, I have been reliably informed that it is Japanese .

It is a well modelled figure of a man smoking a pipe, The base I have seen before with the thick unglazed part  and the small circle of glazed area with the stamped mark.

I have been told it could be a Japanese Okimono done in porcelain to emulate Ivory .

Quite small approx 10 cm's tall.

Thanks

[carlyoung]

more pics

[peterp]

Definitely a Japanese looking figurine. The mark at the bottom could be "??" it is not so clear, but that would be the artisan's name. I can not help with age.

[carlyoung]

Thanks Peter , very hard to date these white pieces , but the artists name and the base will give me a starting point.

[peterp]

BTW, that reads Suzuki.