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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: evsky on January 05, 2014, 03:25:03 pm

Title: Old Bronze looking tribal figure
Post by: evsky on January 05, 2014, 03:25:03 pm
Hello all, just registered to try and get some information on a statue we have had for years. It's always been a mystery as to what it is and what the figure is doing.

Apologies for the poor pictures.

http://i.imgur.com/ms2eesN.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/fEdfEQr.jpg

Any information is welcome
Title: Re: Old Bronze looking tribal figure
Post by: bigwull on January 05, 2014, 03:33:09 pm
nice looking fgure...pics ok...don,t see it being ..Tribal...more like Oriental...Chinese Asian....
Title: Re: Old Bronze looking tribal figure
Post by: evsky on January 05, 2014, 03:36:54 pm
Just got a different perspective with flash,

http://i.imgur.com/LmHSuQ5.jpg

The markings are on his back, there are no other markings so I presume that is the makers mark or brand - Its puzzled us for a long time.
Title: Re: Old Bronze looking tribal figure
Post by: bigwull on January 05, 2014, 04:01:48 pm
he looks big....there is someone one here who will probably know ,i,d be surprised if he did,nt...what country are you in...oh..and welcome....
Title: Re: Old Bronze looking tribal figure
Post by: Dogaman on January 05, 2014, 04:12:50 pm
Evsky,

Hubby, who is well versed in the martial arts, thinks the items being held by the warrior are of Chinese design. The real things are made of wood and used to block sword blows. Unfortunately, he has forgotten what they were called.
Title: Re: Old Bronze looking tribal figure
Post by: evsky on January 05, 2014, 04:29:36 pm
Quote from: bigwull on January 05, 2014, 04:01:48 pm
he looks big....there is someone one here who will probably know ,i,d be surprised if he did,nt...what country are you in...oh..and welcome....

I'm from the UK!

Thanks :)

It would make sense to be Oriental/Asian and to be some kind of martial arts training pose.
Title: Re: Old Bronze looking tribal figure
Post by: Dogaman on January 05, 2014, 04:32:24 pm
Evsky,

Found out that the item is called a "Tonfa". Modern versions do not attach to the forearm, and are balanced so they can be spun and swung at an enemy. Modern billy clubs are designed after these. (per Hubby)
Title: Re: Old Bronze looking tribal figure
Post by: bigwull on January 05, 2014, 04:51:42 pm
Quote from: evsky on January 05, 2014, 04:29:36 pm
Quote from: bigwull on January 05, 2014, 04:01:48 pm
he looks big....there is someone one here who will probably know ,i,d be surprised if he did,nt...what country are you in...oh..and welcome....

I'm from the UK!

Thanks :)

It would make sense to be Oriental/Asian and to be some kind of martial arts training pose.
North or South of Hadrians...i,m North of it....
Title: Re: Old Bronze looking tribal figure
Post by: Ipcress on January 05, 2014, 04:56:05 pm
Well looking at the markings i was going to suggest South East Asia but not China. Somewhere like Thailand, Malaysia where Krabi Krabong is very popular. They wear outfits like those on the figure and they often have motifs on their backs

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Krabi_Krabong.jpg/800px-Krabi_Krabong.jpg)

Hopefully you can see the image in this post
Title: Re: Old Bronze looking tribal figure
Post by: bigwull on January 05, 2014, 05:09:51 pm
found this sketch...which may indicate...China... or wherever they wear a this kind of hat...must say though that swordsman...looks like a Samurai...
Title: Re: Old Bronze looking tribal figure
Post by: bigwull on January 05, 2014, 05:43:32 pm
Could also be Japanese...

http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Advanced_Tonfa.html?id=9DOofRigSVQC&redir_esc=y
Title: Re: Old Bronze looking tribal figure
Post by: Ipcress on January 05, 2014, 05:54:25 pm
These are similar, with the mae sun sawk version of the tonfa the bronze figure appears to be holding. Possibly Siamese.