Vintage Japanese C. 1930 Unused Handcarved Inkan Marble Name Stamp With Foo Dog

This is a vintage Japanese early Showa Era (c. 1930) marble 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 nicely carved name in Chinese characters (see pictures 5, 6, 7, & 8) and has a hand carved foo-dog on top. The foo-dog carving is very well done (see close-up pictures 5 and 6).

The foo-dog was a mythological creature, half dog and half lion, with the spunk of both. It was a friend of mankind and guardian of the spirit world.

This over a half century old inkan stamp measures 1 1/4" long by 5/8" wide by 3 1/4" tall (3.2 x 1.6 x 8.3 cm). This stamp remains in fine condition.