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#1 |
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: Rhineland
Posts: 364
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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 Last edited by AHorsa; 7th October 2022 at 10:36 AM. |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NC, U.S.A.
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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...
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#3 |
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: Rhineland
Posts: 364
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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 |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NC, U.S.A.
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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! |
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#5 |
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: Rhineland
Posts: 364
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#6 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NC, U.S.A.
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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 10:22 AM. |
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