Posted 8 years ago
oldhoarder
(11 items)
2/10/17 This 4-1/2 inch figurine has been in the family for many many years and no one (to date) has been able to clue me in as to what it is or where it may have originated. The animal face is a pale green and the human face is a pale blue...the inside looks like a pale peach glaze. There are no identification marks that I can see. It has a feeling like bone china but I honestly don't know if that is what it is. I am in my eighties now ( believe me, not bragging) but I remember this figure being in my mothers china closet for most of my growing up age. Hope someone can help...and thanks to this newly discovered site which enables us to solve mysteries.
is it possibly for a scouring pad to sit in, like the frogs you used to see by the sink of dishes?
Thanks for your comment Pastime Pro but this item would be much to delicate to use as you suggested...however I do have a frog that sits by the sink for scouring pads.
Lol..ok
That has to be the most fascinating/strangest thing I have ever seen.
It looks like something dreamed up by the Victorians. An Image search didn't produce anything resembling it.
Efesgirl...it sure is fascinating and strange and has tormented me for many years...I even took it to two different high end antique appraisers a few years ago and altho they very much enjoyed seeing it...they had absolutely no idea what it was.
Something for the Antiques Roadshow!
Send the photos to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Tell them you only want to know what the heck it is. That should keep them awake at night, LOL! Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/contact-us/
Efesgirl.....It would probably send the museum into a tailspin as it does everyone else. Will keep it in mind however. lol
LOL! Are you in the UK or in the states?
I am in the beautiful, cold, State of Maine, USA Efesgirl !
first thought on seeing the toothless man in the first image was a vessel for soaking dentures... fascinating whimsy, whatever it may be...
TallCakes... you have me laughing and I did have to go and look at the figurine again but "nope"...would have to be pretty skinny dentures. Thanks for trying.
Rhino head looks like a ashtray maybe , How unique , What is on top of mans head or Rhino's ? any markings ? Very cool and a bit creepy :-) Welcome to CW
The other amazing thing is that it's fully intact. I keep coming back here and staring at it....hoping it will say something to me!
BTW, I'm in the southern tip of The Netherlands.
very unique piece.
mythical creature? mythic humanoid? Greek?
I really find this fascinating!
2/11 Manikin...I don't find any markings...the top of the human head has a lot of very TINY raised bumps on it and the bumps are a darker coloring than the light blue of the face...if those "bumps" are some sort of an ID marking I can't figure them out... there are no markings on the top of the animal head..that is just a plain whitish surface without the glaze.
Efesgirl: Regarding your comment...if it does "say something to you" I will be looking forward to hear what it says. lol
A Spoon Warmer ???
There are lots of grotesque spoon warmers ....
I love it !!!!
I believe when set with the man's face up, it is an ashtray.... when set the other way it is decorative, more than an ashtray.... Figural ashtrays like this were quite popular at one time. That is also why the inside is glazed.... to prevent ashes from discoloring it.... When the smoke filled up the top part while in use, it would overflow out of the upper lip of the face.
They were also made in other forms with holes in the top of them for smoke to trail out. Good "Barbershop quartet ashtrays" and you will some different ones. They were also made for burning incense, which is what the intention may be when placed on the other end.
Good suggestion and I did check out that Barbershop quartet ashtrays site...so I can understand where you are coming from .....however I hesitate to agree...there is no place one would be able to rest a cigarette...yet....it still is a possibility. The incense is a "possibility"..it could sit only on the inside of the animal and placing it in at the back of the mouth would require long tweezers... thanks.