What would this be ?

fernando · 11th June 2018, 12:03 PM

The pictures are horrible (cellphone), but i hope that someone here is familiar with this thing and will recognize it.
It is heavy, made of cast brass, not thin like a powder horn. I think i saw that animal somewhere but i don't recall where; an Indian cow ... maybe not ?
Length about 13 centimeters.
Any help would great.

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olikara · 11th June 2018, 01:50 PM

Hello Fernando!

I'm visiting the forum after a year and nice bumping into you!!

Yes, it is a cow and is very Indian. I'd go further and put my money on South Indian!

;-)
Nidhi

olikara · 11th June 2018, 01:53 PM

And the piece is very very Hindu, not only because of the Cow part of it but also because of the Motifs near the cover end which are the most common on South India Hindu temple Ceilings as well as wall bases.

fernando · 11th June 2018, 02:41 PM

Thank you for your words and for returning to the forum, Olikara; your presence here is so much appreciated.
And ... what do you think is the purpose of this device ?

mariusgmioc · 11th June 2018, 05:42 PM

Powder horn?

Just guessing.

olikara · 11th June 2018, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Thank you for your words and for returning to the forum, Olikara; your presence here is so much appreciated.
And ... what do you think is the purpose of this device ?

It is a powder horn. It isn't thin because it is made of Brass not horn or steel. I would place this piece among the same group of Brass articles that still come up in and around Mysore, Madurai, Tanjore like dagger hilts showing zoo-morphic forms with blades, mostly bad ones attached. The period in my opinion would be mid 19th to late 19th C. Even early 20th C cannot be ruled out.

fernando · 12th June 2018, 11:45 AM

Thank you for your comments. I am surprised that this is a real powder horn; it is rather heavy to carry, has no spout to pour the powder and the screw in the base is rather loose. I would understand if it were a decorative object to resemble a powder horn, but not the real thing

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11th June 2018, 12:03 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	What would this be ? The pictures are horrible (cellphone), but i hope that someone here is familiar with this thing and will recognize it. It is heavy, made of cast brass, not thin like a powder horn. I think i saw that animal somewhere but i don't recall where; an Indian cow ... maybe not ? Length about 13 centimeters. Any help would great. . Attached Images

11th June 2018, 01:50 PM	#2
olikara Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: India Posts: 101	Holy Cow ;-) Hello Fernando! I'm visiting the forum after a year and nice bumping into you!! Yes, it is a cow and is very Indian. I'd go further and put my money on South Indian! ;-) Nidhi

11th June 2018, 01:53 PM	#3
olikara Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: India Posts: 101	Hindu And the piece is very very Hindu, not only because of the Cow part of it but also because of the Motifs near the cover end which are the most common on South India Hindu temple Ceilings as well as wall bases.

11th June 2018, 02:41 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you for your words and for returning to the forum, Olikara; your presence here is so much appreciated. And ... what do you think is the purpose of this device ?

11th June 2018, 05:42 PM	#5
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,906	Powder horn? Just guessing.

12th June 2018, 11:45 AM	#7
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you for your comments. I am surprised that this is a real powder horn; it is rather heavy to carry, has no spout to pour the powder and the screw in the base is rather loose. I would understand if it were a decorative object to resemble a powder horn, but not the real thing .