Carved Wood Foo Dog Chop or Stamp nice wooden ox this vintage Japanese tea caddy

this vintage Japanese tea caddy is just about aesthetically perfect

4 1/2" tall x 2 7/8" wide x 2" deep

with a small dark spot on one side of the lid and a small water stain at the base of one side and onto the bottom

Really a terrific piece

and 3 1/2" deep

Carved Wood Foo Dog Chop or Stamp nice wooden ox this vintage Japanese tea caddyPhotos do not quite do justice to the wonderfully fierce little face on this carved wooden dog stamp and his profile is pretty terrific too, with front legs folded closely along his side, as if just waiting to pounce! I believe he represents a "foo dog," or guardian lion, a protective character that originated and became popular in Chinese Buddhism, then spread to other parts of Asia. Based on the characters on the bottom of the stamp, my guess is