What a creature do I have here?

M ELEY · 7th October 2022, 11:32 AM

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...

AHorsa · 7th October 2022, 01:58 PM

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 could´t find equivalends asian carvings.

Kind regards
Andreas

M ELEY · 8th October 2022, 07:41 AM

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!

AHorsa · 8th October 2022, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M ELEY

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.

M ELEY · 8th October 2022, 10:11 AM

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/

JBG163 · 8th October 2022, 09:34 PM

Looks to me like it depict a Makara, an indian sea creature with an elephant trunk. (to me, the trunk is reversed back the nose/head). First picture from the Guimet Museum, second my vision of the trunk, and last, the two trunk hole from above

AHorsa · 9th October 2022, 08:52 AM

Thank you for your replies and thoughts!

I think the Makara might be a pretty possible solution!

Kind regards!

7th October 2022, 11:32 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	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

7th October 2022, 01:58 PM	#2
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 375	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 could´t find equivalends asian carvings. Kind regards Andreas Attached Images

8th October 2022, 10:11 AM	#5
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	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.

8th October 2022, 09:34 PM	#6
JBG163 Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: France Posts: 208	Looks to me like it depict a Makara, an indian sea creature with an elephant trunk. (to me, the trunk is reversed back the nose/head). First picture from the Guimet Museum, second my vision of the trunk, and last, the two trunk hole from above Attached Images

8th October 2022, 07:41 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	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!

9th October 2022, 08:52 AM	#7
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 375	Thank you for your replies and thoughts! I think the Makara might be a pretty possible solution! Kind regards!