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Has anyone seen anything like these.

I would like to determine when, where and by whom they were made as well as the availability of similar such items.

I've googled my brains out and only found two elephants using the same techniques. They were low priced, couple hundred, but with no history, just the dealer's hype.

I'm not selling, just looking for information.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Why you post to Oriental Arts board?

The horses look like Lipizzaner, their tack not look Chinese.

Good luck,
Cal

Cal wrote:

"Why you post to Oriental Arts board?"

Answer: I didn't. I posted to Asian Arts board. Asia covers a lot of territory, including Russia, India, and the mid-east. Besides, I had to start somewhere.

Cal wrote:

"The horses look like Lipizzaner, there tack not look Chinese."

Answer: That's helpful. It's just as helpful when somebody says what they're not as when somebody says what they are. So thank you very much for the comment.

Jack, a lot of these decorative ivory-substitute models have been made and marketed since the last quarter of the 20th century, when the UN's endangered species treaty placed stiff controls on international trading in ivory. Typically they are pieced together in segments carved from bone, but I suppose other materials such as plastics are used as well.

Your horses and lion may come from India or elsewhere on the subcontinent. The lion in particular has a Mughal or Indo-Persian flavor about it. Decorative pieces such as Buddhistic temple lions and Tang-style horses are being made through this technique in China and/or Taiwan I believe. However, lions aren't native to East or Southeast Asia, and this style if depicting them isn't characteristic of Chinese handicrafts.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Bill,

Thank you for your comments.

I've posted a close up of the "tiles" (for want of a better word) to show the grain. The grain doesn't resemble the cross-hatched grain of ivory nor the pitted surface of bone. It does, however, appear similar to the grain of synthetic material that I've seen photos of but, at the same time, somewhat resembles the grain of some species of seashell. Perhaps you can comment on the material.

Your first comment ("a lot of these decorative ivory-substitute models have been made and marketed since the last quarter of the 20th century") seems to imply that I should be able to find lots of these types of figurines on the internet but I have only found two elephants, of the same size and technique, offered by a dealer. I've emailed the dealer but no response yet.

I've posted photos.

The first elephant has no nail heads and the tiles are identical to the tiles on my lion and the matched pair of horses.

The second elephant with nails heads showing has tiles that are identical to the tiles on the prancing horse.

The first elephant has no ears but the second elephant has ears that would seem to indicate India or Asia, but not Africa.

Any additional comments would be greatly appreciated.

I have a few ivories and have been exposed to enough bone carvings to have some feel for them, but that's about the extent of any hands-on experience. Comments heard from others wiser than I suggest some modern carvers have mastered techniques for making just about anything pass for ivory. Looking at your close-ups I get a sense of deja vu but can't put my finger on it. However, the possibility of it being horn of some sort comes to mind. Here's hoping someone else rides to the rescue on this question.
Best regards,
Bill H.

Here is an example of a couple (made of bits of bone) I came across a few years back. As I recall, the proprietor wanted $4800. I wasn't inclined to buy.

Cheers,
Stan

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