BOTH EZRA AND POLISSA CHOUEKE APPRECIATED THE SKILL AND CRAFTSMANSHIP REQUIRED TO CREATE OKIMONO AND MADE A POINT OF KNOWING THE CARVERS AND CRAFTSMEN WHO WORKED ON THESE PIECES. THESE STATUES AND CARVINGS MADE USE OF VARIOUS MATERIALS: SEMIPRECIOUS STONES OF ALL KINDS, IVORY, WOOD, CORAL AND COMBINATIONS OF BRONZE AND IVORY. MANY OF THESE WERE CARVED BY FARMERS IN RURAL AREAS DURING THE OFF-SEASON WINTER MONTHS TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOMES. EACH ONE HAS ITS OWN CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY. THE ARTIST’S SIGNATURE OR CHOP MODESTLY AND USUALLY APPEARS ON THE BASE OF THE FIGURE AND IS NOT READILY VISIBLE. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY THE ARTIST BY OBSERVING THE TECHNIQUES WHICH ARE UNIQUE TO EACH ARTIST.