Antique-shop.com
Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: tara1245 on February 12, 2010, 08:14:33 pm
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Hi, this is something my mom bought when she was at college in Hawaii. She took it to an antique shop owner about 15 years ago. The man who looked at it told her, from what she remembers, that it was from the west coast of India and about 400 years old. Has anyone seen something like this before?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2746/4352669426_dddfb29de5.jpg
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What are the dimensions and can you post a pic of the inside, bottom side?! Thank you!
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Sure, it's about 13 inchs wide, 11 inches height. Here are some more photos~
(http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt106/taryn1245/chest/jchest002.jpg)
(http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt106/taryn1245/chest/jchest003.jpg)
(http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt106/taryn1245/chest/jchest004.jpg)
(http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt106/taryn1245/chest/jchest007.jpg)
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a couple more photos~
(http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt106/taryn1245/chest/KEYSFIRENZELEATHERCIGAR015.jpg)
(http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt106/taryn1245/chest/KEYSFIRENZELEATHERCIGAR017.jpg)
(http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt106/taryn1245/chest/KEYSFIRENZELEATHERCIGAR014.jpg)
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I'm confused as to why the dealer would think it was from India, when the images appear to be Christian. Perhaps its the cow?
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Right on, Tales. Doubt it is Indian. Doubt it is Chinese. Have no idea as to it's origin. Guessing perhaps Coptic Christian?
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One thing's for sure, that chest is just amazing. If it really is that old, I'm envious! It does appear christian, especially with the sun rays/cross? behind his head.
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She said Goa, India-- which I think was under Portuguese rule back then.
Does it even look like it could be that old? I thought my mom must have not have remembered right about the age.
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:)Your box is likely to be at least a couple of Hundred years old. It's and Icon box. from the Byzantine period, theres alot of interest in a box like this.
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Thank you so much. :) I will call and tell her right now. She had no idea what it was when she bought it. It's always been her favorite thing, she just loves it.
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Does anyone know what the bull would represent? It might not be clear in the photo but he has two eyes painted on his hind quarter.
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the bull was important in Byzantine history. there is certainly a story being told. and expert in Icon's could likely tell what it's saying.
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:) Thanks everyone for looking at it. When I find out what everything represents I'll come back and post.
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The Ox was important as well! Wonder if this is a bull or an ox?
The "eye" held symbolis for 2 meanings: 1) the eye of God which is omnipresent and 2) the evil eye
A Holy person generally has a halo behind their head. Generally Christ has one that has a cross in it as well. The red halo appears the have what could be construed as a cross in it as well.
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Perhaps the eyes on the hind-quarters are an antique reference to the modern (?) expression
about "watching your ass" ?
Some things strike me 'funny' about this item , as far as it's appearance as a complete (& original) item .
Where's the wear patterns , from many hundreds of years , on this painted wood item ?
Didn't the nails ever get a little loose , metalware scrape off paint , etc. ??
Why paint worm-holes ?
If it was mine , I'd do a lead & mercury test on the inside of the box , in the event I thought it was older than 300 years .
I'm going out on my monkey-limb , in order to be very wrong , and say my guess is an item from the lepers colonies of Hawaii .(i.e. - I don't have a clue on this one yet)
Please correct me fully .
All that being said - it looks artsy , distinctive and rustic to me .
Nice item to display , tara1245 .
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I am curious about the wear of it as well. The paint has cracked off but not very apparent wear patterns.
Also, the curious about the white flower. It seems for every Christian symbolism (dogwood flower - cross, etc.) there is the dark side (serpent flower - white purity with a serpent hiding behind to pounce).
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:)Your box is likely to be at least a couple of Hundred years old. It's and Icon box. from the Byzantine period, theres alot of interest in a box like this.
I thought it had a Byzantine look to it as well. I know that the fall of Constantinople to the Turks was sometime in the mid fifteenth century. Could this thing be that old? Old enough to predate the fall of the Byzantine empire? I of course know very little of antiques of this kind, but I do know that there are several other Orthodox Church's that sprang from the Eastern Empire's Church (and outlasted it). Greek Orthodox, Russian, and many eastern European churches. I know there seems to be much similarity between the artwork and architecture of the Byzantine and some of the other Orthodox Churches.
It just seems to me that if this is actual Byzantine, it would have to be at least 550 years old, and I would imagine quite valuble. Am I way wrong on this?
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You would be right Skinny...if in fact it is from that time period!
I think now is the time that tara1245 gets a hands-on evaluation/appraisal from an expert.
Definitely has the look of Byzantine. Has a lot of the symbolism of that era....including the fruit in the serving bowl. (Different fruits mean different things).
Just can't put my finger on this one....there's just something.....The look/wear and the story?!
Could you relate that is Judas laying down at the Garden Gate? or who?
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Hmm, that is odd about the wormholes. My mom said that the large areas of cracked paint happened in the last couple of years, not sure how. She keeps old papers, photos and letters in it and will take the trunk from room to room. Here are a few more photos.
I didn't know they had leper colonies on Hawaii. I asked my mom about it and she said that her mother used to visit one with a church group. She said that strangely enough grandma mentioned it was one of the most peaceful places she had ever been to.
(http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt106/taryn1245/chest/jchest009.jpg)
(http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt106/taryn1245/chest/jchest004.jpg)
(http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt106/taryn1245/chest/jchest006.jpg)