Posted 6 years ago
Kells902
(1 item)
I found this interesting piece in the garbage bin near my house. It appears to be a tea pot, creamer, wine decanter or water jug. It appears to be copper or brass but could be some type of ceramic or clay mixture I cannot tell. There is a language I cannot identify and a number 5 scratched on the inside which does not look original. Could anyone help me please identify what this could be? This MYSTERY is driving me nuts. Thank you so much for your help and consideration.
You need to take that to a college, museum, or other institution where they have a Far Eastern history department. If it's real it's a very interesting piece. The Smithsonian Institution used to have a department where you could send pictures and they would help identify stuff. I don't know if they still do that.
Otherwise it may be a tourist item - maybe someone who can read the writing will write in. It's very cool but the Far East bogus-antiquities trade is alive and well. I can't believe that someone would just throw it away!
Ron, you must have limited experience with people out on the streets now days. LOL !! I was going to guess Central or South Amer., but not ignoring the chance of tourist item. Then I caught the lettering(?). I really don't recognize that as any Oriental language I'm familiar with.
The writing reminds me of Chinese seal script or bronze script.... I might be on the wrong track though
I think it's a Tibetan (China) ceremonial wine jug. The shape is typical, the decor is quite elaborate, the hole in the bottom is probably why it was trashed. Not sure of metal or age. Here is a more recent one.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tibetan-Bronze-Cloisonne-Enamel-Dragon-Phoenix-Kettle-Teapot-Wine-jug-Pot-Flagon-/163260195578?oid=153139729979
This is an amazingly FASCINATING item!!! For all the wrong reasons.
First it is not new. It is a wonderful chimera of different cultures and different time period. Most likely made in China.
Form is duomuhu, or a Tibetan ceremonial ewer. Bird motifs come from the Shang/Zhou dynasty ritual bronzes in China. Writing is archaic Chinese found on Zhou dynsaty ritual bronzes. The handle and spout suggest Chinese bronzes from a later period.
I really love this for all of the above reasons.
Sorry, I don't know why I said that in my comment. It is NOT old.