Record before interpreting
Photograph the full form and base in even light. Record height, maximum width, construction joins, visible wood, colours, brushwork, inscriptions, labels and damage without translating those details into a conclusion yet.
Compare several characteristics together
Regional descriptions can guide looking, but individual makers and periods vary. Compare construction, proportion, head treatment, body motifs and line quality across documented examples rather than matching a single feature.
Read inscriptions cautiously
A signature or workshop mark may narrow research, but readings can be uncertain and names can recur. Compare with documented signed examples and keep a transcription separate from the proposed identity.
Know when to stop
If the photographs, provenance or reference material are inadequate, record the object as unattributed. “Unknown” is more useful than a confident mistake that later travels with the object.