Posted 11 years ago
toracat
(728 items)
I bought this at Hospice Thrift store. I am at a loss. It is not ceramic or resin. And it is not Ivory. Does not appear to be bone as bone dries over time and this is smooth and a nice touch like it is oiled? I do not know who the man is either. I must find out! P lease any information appreciated! Don
It could be resin, toracat. How big is it? Weighty?
It isn't resin, I am pretty sure, I will put a new photo up now and tell me what you think!
I put hot red hot safety pin on bottom and will not penetrate.
I think maybe it is bone of some kind.
How sure are you that it's not ivory? That would make more sense to me, because bone is hollow and its not very easy to carve things like this from a bone. Unless its like a whale bone or something. Other than that, there would be a big hole on the bottom. When you're dealing with pieces of ivory this large, Schreger lines (crosshatching) aren't present in the outside layer of the tusk, so that may be why you're not seeing them.
Check in the places that its chipped with a magnifying glass, do you see tiny pores? Or is it solid? Does it look like a natural material?
Could it be a bone powder & resin blend.
I read online that this was common in Chinese exports beginning in the 1960’s as souvenirs
I showed it to my Japanese friend, she said it is not resin, she was puzzled also. I do not think it is a blend. I will put a new photo up!
I was just throwing the idea out there, I have no idea really.
Here is a link to where I found that info;
http://www.etsy.com/listing/99571411/12-off-sale-exquisite-faux-ivory-or-ox
I have no idea how you would even test for that combo.
Good luck in your quest.
David
I thank you! I will keep trying to find the truth! I did hot pin test, will not penetrate at all, resin suppose to penetrate and smell. Thanks I bookmarked the site you gave me! I have an ivory cribbage board. They both feel the same coolness against my cheek. (this is another test from internet). again thanks!
Yeah there is no hole through the bottom, I don't think its bone. It really looks like a natural material to me. My guess is that its a very, very old chunk of ivory
His nose and chin looks like ivory some to me also?
Yeah, my guess is ivory, there's not much else it could be
Do you see tiny, tiny pores on the white chipped areas under magnification?
Like holes ? no his hands look like ivory. If this is ivory and really old, might be worth something?
almost like petrified ivory?
It is pretty nice carving, I wonder who he is?
Not ivory. It would have visible shrager lines, if it was. Bone should have ossified holes at the ends, which I can't see evidence of. Maybe petrified material? The style of design is western in interpretation...sort of Fu Manchu-ish.
I cleaned the statue, I will post new photos later today
Cogito, you don't see Shreger lines on large pieces of ivory if it's from the outer layer of the tusk, since they are only visible on the inside. They would obviously be further obscured by the patina on this piece, if they are there, so the lack of visible Schreger lines are not a concern. I would not think that this is petrified because the parts where it is chipped are white. It was carved from clean, white ivory and something happened to discolor it like this.
Uh oh, I hope you didn't clean it too much, that detracts from the value quite a bit... Cleaning antiques is a no-no
If it were petrified it would have to have been put in the ground already carved, since the chipped areas are white. It was already carved before it was aged and patinated like this.
No I was gentle! and wrapped in cloth with mineral oil overnight and dried in am. I see much more on it! I think cogito is 100% right, it is manchu, they conquered China in 1644 and controlled until 1912. Look at this website and scroll to manchu writing, it also says later dots and circles were used, I see manchu old writing , I think clearly on his colar, will post new photos later!
Shortly afterwards, their successor Dahai used dots and circles to distinguish vowels, aspirated and non-aspirated consonants and thus completed the script. His achievement is called "script with dots and circles" or "new Manchu script"[42]. Since then, Manchu scripts were successfully created[43].
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchu_alphabet This is manchu writing will post photo of writing or what I think is writing later today
Am I the only one who thinks the piece as been artifically aged or stained? If you look at the recesses on the third picture, you can see brush-like stained regions and irregular areas. I'm not trying to tear the piece down. I find it interesting, but something about it bothers me as to whether it is antique. The sheer size of the piece is impressive. I'm still convinced that you should Shreger lines at either the top or the bottom if this was from an ivory tusk, particularly given the size.
Hi I do not know if it has been stained or not. I am just trying to learn. It cost $9.00, I just want to learn about this, whatever the outcome. Thanks for the help, I will try to find a local expert and ask, I am happy it is not ceramic or resin!
Even if it turns out to be purely decorative...for $9.00, you got a steal! I'll be curious to hear more about it as you have it looked over. I suspect the chip area will be helpful in ferreting out what it is made of and if it was stained.
Yeah it was patinated with some kind of varnish-like substance, they sometimes use tea for ivory but on this there is visible residue of some kind of thick probably tannic varnish.
Schreger lines are very, very faint in most areas of the tusk, and if a piece has been patinated they would be even HARDER to see. Did you see the bottom of this piece? It was black, you can't see the surface at all. There is no way you'd see Schreger lines on this
The internet said to take a q-tip soak it in isopropyl alcohol rub on statue and if it is stained, some will show on q-tip. I soaked and rubbed and rubbed and q-tip is clear.
Could it be rhino horn? just a thought.
Rhino horn is keritan or hair, not even connected to a bone, like our fingernails.
I put rhino horn pictures, see the two bulges on mine and the rhino?
I am loosing it! haha The more I read and look, the more I tend to lean to rhino.
I reckon the signature in photo four is Japanese.
How does photo three fit in?
Well there is two knobs or protruding areas and on mine there is two knobs also and the bottom of mine is black like photo 4
Anybody see faces in photo 4 under his folded arms?
Yes a profile.
If this is Rhino horn as you suspect, you can do the same hot needle test & it will give you that burnt hair smell.
Nah, rhino horn is transparent and grey
4th photo is rhino horn?
Sold for $49,000+ at 888 auction
well then it looks like you got your moneys worth!! As cool as it is, 50 grand is way cooler :D
I doubt if it is Rhino horn? I do not know as I am an amateur! I am a dreamer!
Its a little large for rhino horn, all but the very, very largest are curved
Some rhino horns are almost 3 1/2 to 4 feet!
But the largest ones cost in the tens of thousands of dollars when they're that big. Even still, this would have a SLIGHT, noticeable curve if it was rhino horn
Please see my gold posting, I will post another pose of this statue!
I do not think it is rhino for sure, I do not know what it is. Now I found two faces in the sleeves of hi robe, I think! will post later tonight! And a face upside down by bottom of robe! Strange! Thanks for all your help! I worked all my life in mental health field. I am so against drugs. Thanks again my friend Stillwater!
I think female. Always thought so.
I wasn't sure but the hair appears female. Like Princess Leia in Starwars! haha thanks
Totally Princess!
very nice statue
Thank you!