Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Miscellania

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 7th October 2022, 06:47 AM   #1
AHorsa
Member
 
AHorsa's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Rhineland
Posts: 368
Default What a creature do I have here?

Dear All,

does anyoknow the origin and meaning of that strange creature?
I assume it is possibly not European, but Indian or Asian? Or something Nordic? Does anyone have a better idea? Dimensions: 21x12x10cm / 8.3x4.7x4inch

I am happy about any idea!

Kind regards
Andreas
Attached Images
      

Last edited by AHorsa; 7th October 2022 at 11:36 AM.
AHorsa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 7th October 2022, 12:32 PM   #2
M ELEY
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NC, U.S.A.
Posts: 2,102
Default

What a fascinating carving, Andreas! Where did you find it? Any info at all on this piece? Seems genuinely old with weathering/patina. Perhaps the type of wood (if we could identify it) might help give us an origin. In profile, it reminds me of Singhalese kastane and 'dog head' hangers from Shri Lanka, but who knows...
Attached Images
  
M ELEY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 7th October 2022, 02:58 PM   #3
AHorsa
Member
 
AHorsa's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Rhineland
Posts: 368
Default

Thanks for your reply. It comes from an auction in Germany and was contemporary mounted on a 19th century furniture decoration (s. image).
Sadly I have no idea on the sort of wood.
Indeed, the Sinhalese depictions has some analogy. But there is many points I find strange on this depiction:

The position of the nose and the something below (red arrows)
The strange stylised cheek-bones
The decorations on the neck of the creature
The hole in the "nose"

I did some scratchy research but couldīt find equivalends asian carvings.

Kind regards
Andreas
Attached Images
    
AHorsa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 8th October 2022, 08:41 AM   #4
M ELEY
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NC, U.S.A.
Posts: 2,102
Default

19th c? I would have guessed earlier

Yes, it is a strange mystery. The reasons I thought of the Singhalese connection was directly because of the strange 'collar' design of the neck on yours resembling some kastane hilts, plus the positioning of the ears on yours again similar. Many of the designs for the hilts were, much like kris hilts, very abstract. The Shri Lankans used many symbols of stylized lions in their art, weapons, currency and, of course, flags. Furniture, by the same token, began using lions as claw feet in the early Baroque period. I was hoping someone far more knowledgeable would swoop in to help us at this point!
M ELEY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 8th October 2022, 09:14 AM   #5
AHorsa
Member
 
AHorsa's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Rhineland
Posts: 368
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by M ELEY View Post
19th c? I would have guessed earlier
The furniture parts are 19th century (I guess). I am with you that the carved head might be earlier.
AHorsa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 8th October 2022, 11:11 AM   #6
M ELEY
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NC, U.S.A.
Posts: 2,102
Default

It might be lack of sleep (I'm a night shift nurse), but I had some other thoughts on this piece. The finish on it appears rough, but not just from age, but as if made that way? If so, probably not furniture. The open 'mouth' could be to hold a rope (banner? A sail rope?) or bannister if this item were flat/vertical against a wall? From my nautical interests, I even contemplated if this were a cat's head or some figurehead for a Thai prow! You see what sleep deprivation can produce!?

https://www.scottishmaritimemuseum.o...ark-cats-head/

Last edited by M ELEY; 8th October 2022 at 11:22 AM.
M ELEY is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:09 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.