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CanyonRoad----->Peculiar African Terracotta Sculpture w/Clockwise Swastika , Thrift Shop Find - An Urn???

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Mrs.Bennett's loves1 of 5my daddys gftsanyone have any ideas
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    Posted 8 years ago

    Efesgirl
    (1017 items)

    I have less than no clue what the purpose of this is; three holes on the top, a man holding his head in his hand...is he being consumed by a giant land snail? Diagonal length is about 6 inches. Weighs about 2 pounds. Part of the bottom is unpainted. No name anywhere. The 3 holes go all the way though and the inside of the "ball" appears to be hollow. When I shake it, I hear stuff rattling around inside.

    My search goes on - thanks to anyone who can identify this object.

    Unsolved Mystery

    Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.

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    Comments

    1. jscott0363 jscott0363, 8 years ago
      Well, it's very cool indeed!! I just have no worldly idea what it is.
    2. kyratango kyratango, 8 years ago
      Look like the man is asking himself what is he doing on this mystery thing!
      Someone will know!
    3. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      I did turn it upside down in an attempt to dislodge whatever is inside and a few pieces of what looked like leaves fell out, along with a blob of dust. Hmmmph...
    4. melaniej melaniej, 8 years ago
      Hope that wasn't human ashes that fell out!!!!
      Because it sure looks like he is mourning the lost of a loved one.

      I watch too many "Haunting" shows...lol
    5. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      melaniej - now there's a thought!! Hey, you may just be on to something. I watch paranormal shows regularly, but the possibility of this being an urn never crossed my mind!
    6. melaniej melaniej, 8 years ago
      Looks like a funerary vessel to me....
      Maybe a little further research can help in this piece.
      Whatever it is I likey....
    7. melaniej melaniej, 8 years ago
      Is it red clay under the black? In the holes I see red....
      And what type of designs is etched on it? I
      Picture #2 I see etched designd...can't make them out.
    8. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      melaniej - yes, it's red terracotta. The inside of the holes are ribbed and get narrower inside the "vessel". The etched design looks abstract to me, maybe symbols I just don't recognize.
    9. melaniej melaniej, 8 years ago
      http://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF1012-Spong-Hill-Early-Saxon-cemetery-and-multi-period-finds-and-features&Index=869&RecordCount=56542&SessionID=ab396260-165b-49e8-bf7e-1dab22c8a857
    10. katherinescollections katherinescollections, 8 years ago
      Well it's a wonderful little thing, Bonnie, and it does appear as though melanie is on to something.
    11. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      katherine - yes, it certainly does. I've been googling my little heart out and trying to cross reference my photos, but got a big fat zero. I found an auction site that deals in primitive art, so I am going to take a stab and send photos to see if someone there knows what this thing is. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. :-)
    12. melaniej melaniej, 8 years ago
      CanyonRoad would be the one to probably identify this piece....
    13. melaniej melaniej, 8 years ago
      Can you highlight etched designs with baby powder or baking soda and post picture..may help figure this out.
      Just don't get it in the holes.
    14. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      melaniej - yes I will do that for you.
    15. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      melaniej - photos are there. I see now that the symbol is a clockwise swastika.

      http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/sociopol_thule10.htm

      The symbol of the 4-sided swastika is an archetype for the rotations of time and consciousness - moving clockwise and counterwise - in upward or downward spirals - allowing souls to experience many levels of reality simultaneously
    16. melaniej melaniej, 8 years ago
      You know I will be up all night trying to figure this out.

      We need CanyonRoad to pop up....

      https://www.google.com/search?q=swastika+on+funerary+urns&client=tablet-android-verizon&biw=1280&bih=800&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMIv9aNosuQyQIVQ9keCh290AfU

      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika_(Germanic_Iron_Age)
    17. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      LOL @ melaniej! I have been eyeing this for a couple of weeks in the thrift store - I finally caved in, gave my $2 and took the thing home. :-) I normally never buy this sort of stuff - not my thing - but this one intrigued me.
    18. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      CANYONROAD, are you in the neighborhood??
    19. melaniej melaniej, 8 years ago
      Burnesed Blackware Vessel
      For?
      From? Maya, Inca, Andes, Moche????
      Age? Pre-columbian?
      Jeeeez someone help me out here....before I lose my mind!
    20. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      LOL! Steady there, melaniej...I'm not in the least familiar with this sort of pottery, so it me it looks like something somebody made during a slow afternoon. I would be thrilled if it turned out to be really something! By the way, the bottom is not dirty at all and that half of the terracotta there is unpainted - the section where the man is sitting. Does that make sense.
    21. melaniej melaniej, 8 years ago
      Well if you Google burnished blackware a lot of it looks like it was made Yesterday But Not THE Case At all?

      https://www.google.com/search?q=pre+columbian+burnished+blackware&client=tablet-android-verizon&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAmoVChMI-Yyi9vaSyQIVyOsmCh1YlwKM



    22. kyratango kyratango, 8 years ago
      Hey Melanie found a path... worth exploring !
    23. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      You're right, Melanie...I'm looking there now.
    24. katherinescollections katherinescollections, 8 years ago
      CanyonRoad, I'm jumping this to the top of the splash page, let's see if you see it and come to melaniej's rescue, lol. :)
    25. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      Thanks, katherine! I would hate for Melanie to lose any more sleep over this great lump of terracotta.. :-D The more I look at this object, the more interested I become in finding out just how old it is - or isn't.
    26. melaniej melaniej, 8 years ago
      Katherine and Efesgirl
      Between this piece and the Rousey vs Holm fight last night and really didn't get any sleep. But I have to say I enjoyed the fight and I'm enjoying trying to figure this little sad person out.
      I just drink more coffee and keep going...lol.
    27. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      Rousey got rousted yesterday....I hope she'll be ok. I just sent an email to the Artemis Gallery to see if they can tell me anything. I have to wait until I hear back from them so I can send photos.

      I already had my coffee, but might need another cup before this night is over!
    28. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika
      Maybe it's from the Indian sub continent, just a thought
    29. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      Oops done it again, I see melaniej has already put this link up.
    30. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      Peasejean55, gonna start calling you Brittany (Spears)...hee hee hee!! Unless I find out some firm info on this object, my poor brain ( and Melanie's!) will end up in the sub-continent~!
    31. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      Oh no not Brittany Spears :-(
    32. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      Peasejean55 - LOL I wouldn't really do that to you.... me loves ya!
    33. katherinescollections katherinescollections, 8 years ago
      If Peasejean doesn't want to be Brittany, I'll take it, if it comes with her money! :))
    34. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      LOL@katherine! Let me know when you're coming to the Netherlands for your next concert!
    35. swfinluv1 swfinluv1, 8 years ago
      Any holes or openings on either end? When I first saw it, I thought it was an ocarina but you'd need an opening for the mouthpiece if you wanted it to make any sound. Ours are all animals but the coloring and the overall shape/size is about the same.
    36. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      swfinluv1 - no openings that go completely through. This sculpture is quite dense and heavy - weighs about two pounds. I know what an ocarina is, I see many of them here in the Netherlands.
    37. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      The mystery deepens....
    38. Efesgirl Efesgirl, 8 years ago
      CANYONROAD....calling CanyonRoad...come in, CanyonRoad!
    39. Celiene Celiene, 8 years ago
      I remember this! Maybe post it again- or change the category to Native American art. Canyon always seems to answer those posts. That might get his attention!

      Did you ever shake out what was in it? Maybe it's just dried up bugs. Is there a fourth hole? Maybe it's a kind of flute? Candle holder for small skinny candles? Problem is - so many cultures used the Swastika throughout history.

      We need better pictures of the whole thing from other angles. I'd like to see the whole thing from the other side. Post a second post w/additional pics - let try to figure it out again.
    40. katherinescollections katherinescollections, 8 years ago
      CanyonRoad, are you still with us? We need your expert opinion and eyes, please. :)
    41. Celiene Celiene, 8 years ago
      Maybe he's on Vacation!
    42. swampdogg swampdogg, 7 years ago
      if theres 3 holes on top and what looks like a hole on the last photo could this be a pipe ?

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