eBay

greek38 · ‎08-01-2017

I bought this piece about 15 years ago. It looked old and aroused my curiosity as to the function. Not finding out it's purpose after buying, it got packed it away and forgoten. Recently while going thru some old boxes of stuff it appeared! After all this time I still do not know what it is. Looking for any help you guys can give(maybe you have seen one before?) I think it's an old teapot but who knows...

greek38 · ‎08-08-2017

I should just list the thing as a mystery piece, mention a few possible uses and see what happens! Start it around a hundred bucks and see if it has any interest. If it's good who knows what it could bring, if it's nothing of any importance then likely it will not get any bids.

THANK YOU for all of the looks & replies 🙂

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greek38 · ‎08-07-2017

I am a bit suprised no comments or ideas were put forth about my item. Looks like it will remain a mystery for now.

woodw_sandr · ‎08-07-2017

I looked at this a few times but could not make out a spout or lid or handle. Could you show a pic. with the lid off and maybe the interior. Also maybe you could define where the spout is by inserting a pencil?

bnbsellingtime · ‎08-07-2017

I can't imagine it is meant to pour liquid from. My best guess is it may be intended as an incense burner, but again that is only a guess.

greek38 · ‎08-08-2017

No lid, it is one piece.

greek38 · ‎08-08-2017

The top left picture shows what I think could be the way it gets filled on the left side. It's the scoop shape appendage sticking out(starting below her hair). The scoop doubles as a handle. What I think to be the spout on the right sticks out just below her knee. Anyway, that's my best guess.

I do not see the incence burner theory but it is possible.

zzydny · ‎08-08-2017

I cannot imagine this as a teapot. I thought incense burner, too--that makes sense.

Then I had another idea. Not sure what you'd call it but this could be a sort of vase but for shoots of ivy or some other trailing vine for use as a decorative element.

greek38 · ‎08-08-2017

sort of vase.... could be! 1.) teapot 2.) incence burner 3.) bud vase

This is why I would like to know what this piece was really meant to be. Good thing I am not a cat because I buy a few items a year to simply to figure out what they are. Usually find out pretty quickly but I have a few things I bought 20-25+ years ago and I still do not know the intended uses. lol

argon38 · ‎08-08-2017

@greek38 wrote:

Good thing I am not a cat

From the photos it would make an extraordinarily unwieldy teapot. How heavy is it? Wouldn't the tea just splash all over the place if someone tried to pour it out of that hole? Why is it a good thing that you are not a cat?

do.you.read.me · ‎08-08-2017

My first instinct was that it is an incense burner, but that's been my answer for many items wih queries of what is this thing? Haha.

I refrained from commenting yesterday, only to find that others think the same thing... it's an incense burner.

Or a bong. Yeah, maybe a bong, missing some parts.

maxine*j · ‎08-08-2017

@argon38 wrote:
@greek38 wrote:

Good thing I am not a cat
Why is it a good thing that you are not a cat?

Curisoity killed the cat.

woodw_sandr · ‎08-08-2017

Have you tried filling it with water to see how that hole below her knee would function as a spout?

I think it may be safe to rule out teapot, the vessel would need to be perpendicular to pour, that doesn't seem a safe procedure with hot tea.

Sorry, no suggestions other than those offered, maybe bulb pot or incence sticks.

zzydny · ‎08-08-2017

@greek38 wrote:
sort of vase.... could be! 1.) teapot 2.) incence burner 3.) bud vase
This is why I would like to know what this piece was really meant to be. Good thing I am not a cat because I buy a few items a year to simply to figure out what they are. Usually find out pretty quickly but I have a few things I bought 20-25+ years ago and I still do not know the intended uses. lol

When I was a little kid and they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always said, "a cat!"

Have continued thinking about your item. I believe that the figure may be Kwan Yin. If that is the case, then incense burner may make the most sense.

editing to add: after the whole Pearl S. Buck phenom back in the mid-1900's, there was a real proliferation of Chinese style decoration, especially with garden fittings and such. I have a Kwan Yin garden statue myself.

do.you.read.me · ‎08-08-2017

Aren't lotus flowers grown in water? Maybe this is a Kuan Yin vase for holding the traditonal lotus blossom associated with the icon.

zzydny · ‎08-08-2017

@do.you.read.me wrote:
Aren't lotus flowers grown in water? Maybe this is a Kuan Yin vase for holding the traditonal lotus blossom associated with the icon.

That absolutely makes sense!