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Subject:Asian wood carving of turtle?
Posted By: chuck tell Tue, Apr 12, 2016 IP: 68.231.42.77 Anybody have a clue what this might be? Some kind of box? Asian? Age? Looks old. Each piece has an "H' carved into it. But it doesn't look like an Asian character. The face on the tortoise looks somewhat like Asian pieces I've seen. Any and all thoughts welcome. I'm lost. Thanks. |
Subject:Re: Asian wood carving of turtle?
Posted By: Gman Tue, Apr 12, 2016 Yes, what a strange piece. |
Subject:Re: Asian wood carving of turtle?
Posted By: chuck Thu, Apr 14, 2016 No hinge. The shell doesn't fit tightly at all. The smaller depression at the end of the shell's bottom is just a depression. It doesn't go anywhere. The picture of the round mouth is deceptive. I've attached a more revealing angle. The mouth is actually wider, with additional openings on both sides of the round hole. The inside of the mouth is carved out about the size of the inside of what a real mouth would be, but it doesn't lead anywhere. Also, the neck is not hollowed out at all. The shell actually sits oddly on the base. As you can see in another attached image here, the front of the shell covers a good chunk of the design on the body, and it hangs out over the back end of the body. When I first saw it, I thought maybe the shell was a different wood than the body, as did an auction house guy who just happened to be there when i picked it up from the thrift shelf. I thought maybe a different person added a replacement shell after the fact. The shell is more reddish and a bit lighter in shade than the body. However, the undersides of both pieces look similar in technique and wood. And, as previously mentioned, they both have the same mark carved into them. I detect no particular smell for either piece. Also, there's a perfectly round, small mystery hole in just one of the "ribs," on the shell, which in fact, all do have squared-off tops. |
Subject:Re: Asian wood carving of turtle?
Posted By: chuck Fri, Apr 15, 2016 The three images I sent to accompany my "no hinge " reply don't appear to have gone through, so i'm sending them again. The third image of three is a shot from behind. The "hole" referred to in the "no hinge" reply is in an image I sent in a response to Bill H. |
Subject:Re: Asian wood carving of turtle?
Posted By: Bill H Tue, Apr 12, 2016 This is a carved bamboo root turtle box, perhaps for incense. Whether it is from China, Japan or Korea is difficult to say, as turtles and tortoises are important cultural symbols of longevity and strength in all three of these linguistically entwined cultures (and all the other ethnic Chinese communities around the world). Bamboo carving is an art form of most such places as well. |
Subject:Re: Asian wood carving of turtle?
Posted By: Bill H Wed, Apr 13, 2016 Here's another turtle box from the Northeastern part of Thailand (Isarn). This one was used to store powdered lime from seashells, which was used by betel nut-chewers to reduce bitterness in the "quid", as a prepared "chew" of the nut is known. The areca or betel palm is the source of the betel nut chewed all over Asia for its alkaloid content, which gives the chewer a pick-me-up similar to a strong caffeine drink. This boost in energy fits with the turtle as a icon of strength and endurance. |
Subject:Re: Asian wood carving of turtle?
Posted By: Chuck Thu, Apr 14, 2016 Here's an image of my "H" or your Gong character. What do you think? Also, any idea what that small hole is about? It's the only one on either piece. The small "slit-like" hole on the third image here appears to be from wear. Is it possible to guess how old this thing is? |
Subject:Re: Asian wood carving of turtle?
Posted By: Gman Sat, Apr 16, 2016 Hi Chuck, |
Subject:Re: Asian wood carving of turtle?
Posted By: Chuck Mon, Apr 18, 2016 Thanks, Gman. |
Subject:Re: Asian wood carving of turtle?
Posted By: Bill H Mon, Apr 18, 2016 Hey guys, |
Subject:Re: Asian wood carving of turtle?
Posted By: Chuck Tue, Apr 19, 2016 Thanks, Bill. |
Subject:Re: Asian wood carving of turtle?
Posted By: Chuck Tue, Apr 19, 2016 Bill and everybody else, |
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