Help ID Asian Objects of Art
Hi all,
I'm "usually" pretty good at ID'ing Asian objects, but these have me at a loss. I contacted a couple of museums prior to posting here, but no reply as of yet. These appear to be quite old? The first, a bronze ornament or plaque with a small figure(?) seated atop the horse's head and a bird(?) pecking at his head??? The others appear to be stone (steatite?) figures with incised facial features and apertures at the armpits. The bronze is the largest piece at approx 4 inches.
Can you all please help? I know it's going to be a longshot, but I've seen these boards over the years preform miracles. Thank you all so much for your time!
3 comments
jpgharv29
OP1 year ago@sonomabarn67
Yes, I've seen those examples of the Upper-Mongolian ornaments/plaques, but mine is not of the same style/construction. I've also looked into the Luristan examples and the same, doesn't fit.
The figures are not clay but constructed of stone (probably, soapstone?). At first glace, I thought calcified jade, but the stone is too soft for such. I'll search the Iran avenue and see what turns-up.
Yes, the Billiken is a very early example (circa, 1910 - 1915) before the craze and all the touristy stuff started to be made for sale. It's one of the finest examples one will see in respects to the carving outside a museum (museum quality so-to-speak).
jpgharv29
OP1 year agoJust wanted to share...
This lil' guy was pretty much EZ to ID. He's a masterfully carved early-20th C. example of a, Billiken. Unfortunately, he has a small chip to ear and cannot be listed for sale given the medium. We'll most likely donate him and send him back home to join the rest of his family atop the shelves at the Alaska State Museum, Juneau.
(my humble apologies for the thread distraction, just thought he was too good of a piece to keep to oneself)
sonomabarn67
·1 year agoJust a guess but the rider on horseback reminds me of Mongolian images. The clay figures remind me of Persian pottery with the outlining of the mouths and lastly , the Kewpie is one of the oldest I've seen.