need help: black forest? statue with cane

Jon MB · 14th October 2018, 09:22 PM

Agree, looks like figures from the Netherlands.

The felt covering to the base suggests a later date than the appearance and dress of the figures might first indicate.

Notice the realistic effect achieved in wood of the folds in the sides of the gentleman's waistcoat.

Nice piece.

josh stout · 15th October 2018, 01:55 PM

Thanks for putting it in the right place.

The Netherlands is a god tip. I was looking for carving good enough to look like resin, and found the "black Forest" carvings, but indeed they had no ivory.

I really don't have a sense of the age of this carving. Do you agree it is not resin? I don't see how it can be, but the antique dealer held it in his hand and declared "resin".

At the moment I feel it could be anywhere from 1850 to 1950. I agree it is not as old as the period depicted, but it has some age. The dealer thought it was a mass market item from the 1970s, but I have not been able to find another example.

Jon MB · 16th October 2018, 01:48 PM

Antique dealers may have a paranoia about anything to do with ivory at this point, antique or not.

Wouldn't write off a German connection entirely. Also wondered if could be a Japanese Meiji period item, made for export.

Richard G · 16th October 2018, 07:05 PM

If it is carved wood and it is carved ivory, then it could be 17th or early 18th cent, and if it is - I'd have thought quite important and valuable.
Regards
Richard

josh stout · 16th October 2018, 08:56 PM

It doesn't have the feel of something 18thc or earlier, and I agree that the felt looks much later. I think it is a 19thc copy of an earlier style. Still, it is very nicely carved, much better than most things you run across. It may have been too nice for the antiques dealer to believe it was just walking in the door.

I suspect the antiques dealer evaluated the fifteen year old girl showing him the piece, more than the piece itself.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

14th October 2018, 09:22 PM	#1
Jon MB Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 143	Agree, looks like figures from the Netherlands. The felt covering to the base suggests a later date than the appearance and dress of the figures might first indicate. Notice the realistic effect achieved in wood of the folds in the sides of the gentleman's waistcoat. Nice piece.

15th October 2018, 01:55 PM	#2
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	Thanks for putting it in the right place. The Netherlands is a god tip. I was looking for carving good enough to look like resin, and found the "black Forest" carvings, but indeed they had no ivory. I really don't have a sense of the age of this carving. Do you agree it is not resin? I don't see how it can be, but the antique dealer held it in his hand and declared "resin". At the moment I feel it could be anywhere from 1850 to 1950. I agree it is not as old as the period depicted, but it has some age. The dealer thought it was a mass market item from the 1970s, but I have not been able to find another example.

16th October 2018, 01:48 PM	#3
Jon MB Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 143	Antique dealers may have a paranoia about anything to do with ivory at this point, antique or not. Wouldn't write off a German connection entirely. Also wondered if could be a Japanese Meiji period item, made for export.

16th October 2018, 07:05 PM	#4
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 411	If it is carved wood and it is carved ivory, then it could be 17th or early 18th cent, and if it is - I'd have thought quite important and valuable. Regards Richard

16th October 2018, 08:56 PM	#5
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	It doesn't have the feel of something 18thc or earlier, and I agree that the felt looks much later. I think it is a 19thc copy of an earlier style. Still, it is very nicely carved, much better than most things you run across. It may have been too nice for the antiques dealer to believe it was just walking in the door. I suspect the antiques dealer evaluated the fifteen year old girl showing him the piece, more than the piece itself.