Tea Caddy by Henry William Dee, London 1875 with FINE INLAID IVORY MANJU NETSUKE OF KACHO-GA TYPE

This motif is known as kacho-ga 花鳥画, meaning ‘birds and flowers,’ and it was introduced to Japan from China during the 14th century around the Muromachi period (1336-1573). The motif was extremely popular in China, but it developed its own distinct style in Japan over the centuries.