Posted 12 years ago
jocelyn.ta…
(19 items)
What a mystery to me I am sad to say. The head is solid brass, the carving details are amazing and so beautiful. The inside has been hollowed out a bit, and as you can see, the long thin piece ( also has carvings on top featherlike or leaflike..) can slide in and out, and if feels like the delicate carved tail could slide in and out as well, I do not wish to force it, but it has some give. Oddly, the individual parts have numbers carved into them as follows: long thin hooked- 36/ body-26/ tail-29.
Awesome. Yes, I can see how that would work. Any idea where it would have come from? The detail is really puzzling. It is such a beautiful item, to put that much work into something is dedication. Clearly hand made.
Another reproduction from India of a Chinese design, sorry. These "antiques" are flooding the market. Do a search of antique locks on ebay and you will see a dozen different animals, and insects with the same design.
I must disagree. I have taken it to a handful of Antique shops here in NY, and all are in agreement the patina, craftsmanship and metalwork are all consistent with early 1800's at the least. I respect your opinion, and am glad to see someone else take interest. I will keep you posted on the ultimate outcome, it is presently with a local dealer that has the time and interest to definitively identify. Thanks again.
The problem there is the reproductions/fantasy items out of India are being made very similar to the way things were made in the 1800's.
In my opinion this does not show the wear in the right places. The patina can be added to an item in just a few days, I have done that myself.
I hope we are wrong, but don't get your hopes too high.